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LETTERS TO A YOUNG LADY.

No. I.

MY DEAR FRIEND,- Nothing Nothing could afford me more heartfelt pleasure and satisfaction than to hear of the change which has recently taken place in your religious sentiments. There was a period in your, and my remembrance, when the very name of vital religion was in your view and estimation a name of reproach. But a little time since you neither knew nor valued the things of God. You not only were indifferent to the precious truths of the Gospel, but you had a positive dislike to them. The spirit by which you were animated, and the objects which you uniformly pursued, unquestionably proved that you were in the number of those who are described by an apostle as Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.' But things are altered now, you begin to see the reality, and appreciate the importance of true religion; you are now I trust alive to the value of the soul, and the urgent necessity of attending to the things which belong unto our peace before they are hid from our eyes.' What a mercy it is that you are awakened from the sleep of carnal security, and of death! You cannot be sufficiently thankful; ascribe all to the glory of sovereign grace alone.

But, my dear young friend, whilst I offer you my sincerest congratulations on the happy change which has taken place in your views, allow me to evince the affectionate interest I feel in your spiritual welfare by suggesting a few hints of advice. At the commencement of our Christian course there is nothing we require so much as advice: a little seasonable and judicious advice will under the blessing of God secure us from mistakes on the one hand, and disquietude of mind on the other. But,

yet important as is the advice of Christian friends, you must not forget to look up with humble dependence to the teaching and guidance of that Spirit, "without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy;" "the wisdom that cometh from above" will be diligently sought by all those who are desirous of improvement and edification in the divine life.

The first hint that I would suggest to your attention, is not to trust in religious frames and feelings; young converts more especially need to be cautioned in this respect. Nothing can be more fallacious than frames and feelings, they are subject to great variation, from different circumstances. consider frames and feelings as indicative of the spiritual state of the Believer, is, I feel persuaded a serious mistake. It is doubtless the privilege of the real Christian in the favoured seasons of grace to

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be filled with " peace and joy in believing;" yea, at times to "rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory;" but then the real Christian is not always allowed to walk on the mount of exaltation; for wise reasons he is often brought down into the valley of humiliation: God seems to withdraw the light of his countenance from him, and he 66 goes mourning all the day long." At this very time, in the dark season of distress his soul may prosper most. graces of the Christian character are exhibited in more lively exercise, faith is strengthened, and hope confirmed. The young beginner in religion, whose heart is but recently won to God, is in general much favoured. The manifestations of divine love are peculiarly vouchsafed; there is a freshness of holy joy, an ardour of love, a sweet

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purity of feeling which are never perhaps experienced in an equal degree at least in the maturer stages of the divine life. Nor is it at all necessary that it should be so. When the soul is confirmed in the ways of God, and faith is established in lively exercise, the sensations become more subdued, and the joys experienced in religion assume a more tranquil though not less real character. Now, my dear friend, you need not, you must not be discouraged if in your subsequent progress to the heavenly Zion, you are not conscious of the same elevation of spiritual frame, the same powerful emotions of love, the same fulness of joy in the things of God. Do not for an instant imagine that you are retrogading in the divine life, do not hastily come to the conclusion that you have been deceiving yourself all the while, and that you really have no religion at all; these, be assured, are the temptations of Satan, who makes use of them to draw your steps aside from the path

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of peace, and ruin your soul. The evidences of a state of grace are not determined by any transitory feelings, or emotions whatever. you are favoured from time to time with peculiar tokens of divine love, if your heart overflows with the full tide of gratitude to Him who suffered, and who died for your sake, if the value and excellence of true religion are more powerfully than usual realized in the soul, be thankful for those blessed seasons which you are privileged to enjoy. But do not be cast down, if those seasons are short-lived in their duration. Only keep close to God in the diligent exercise of prayer, and reading his sacred Word. Thus shall your soul really prosper and grow under the dews of heavenly grace. I must reserve for another opportunity the few remaining hints of advice which I have to suggest to your notice. In the mean time, believe me to be, my dear Friend, Yours very sincerely,

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CHARLES.

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THE SIN AND DANGER OF BACKSLIDING.

BELIEVERS are in continual hazard of departing from the Lord-both from the example of professors, false opinions, and the temptations of an evil world. Satan also desires to have them "that he may sift them as wheat," and "goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." And last, though not least, the evil heart within, indwelling sin, and corruption are ready upon all occasions to betray us into the enemy's hand. This made Paul cry out, "Wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death."

Believers should remember daily, that " God hath called them unto holiness." Christ did not die to redeem us from the curse of the law, to give us latitude to sin,-no, it was 66 to purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works;" and having the promise of eternal life, "exceeding great and precious promises," we should "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and be perfecting holiness in the fear of God." God will sometimes cast his people into the furnace to purge away their dross, and to make them holy, and his goodness and mercy ought to have the same obligation upon us; and to this end, the preaching of the word, and the ordinances of the gospel all tend.

Believers should reflect, as a motive to holiness, on the dismal effects that will follow their departure from the Lord. As it is said of adulterer, "" a wound and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away," so professors bring a reproach upon themselves, and make the word of the Lord in their lips to be contemned and despised. Thus the priests in the days of Malachi, departed out of the way, caused many to stumJANUARY 1838.

ble at the law, and corrupted the
covenant; ""
therefore, saith the
Lord, I have made you contemp-
tible and base before all the people,
according as ye have not kept my
way, but have been partial in the
law."

Believers will also stain and pollute their own souls, which ought to be kept pure and holy to the Lord. This is dreadfully dangerous-" know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy." Utter destruction from the Lord is awaiting all those, who are hypocrites in heart, and dreadful temporal destruction from the Lord, may overtake even his own children who defile their garments, and disgrace the name of Christ.

Believers should remember that indulging secret sin will mar their peace and comfort, and it will provoke the Lord to fill them with terrors. With David will they cry out of broken bones," and say with Job "the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison thereof drinketh up my spirit." They will also cast a blot upon the good ways of the Lord. Oh, if they who have been calling Christ Master and Lord at his sacred table, go away to work iniquity, what will the graceless world say? will they not conclude that all professors are hypocrites, and religion but a name? Alas, that it should ever be so-" these are spots in our feasts of charity," and for these things "the ways of Zion do mourn," and the way of the Lord is evil spoken of. Christ is dishonored, even that glorious Saviour whom we have been professing to own; like Israel of old, that caused God's holy name to be polluted among the heathen." The righteous will be grieved, and

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oh, it is a very dangerous thing to grieve the hearts of those who are dear to God; and this is not all, the wicked will thereby be hardened in their sins. Oh, when they see those who have professed to love God, really loving the world, and walking "after the desires of the flesh and of the mind," they are awfully led to conclude that their way is the best, they are hardened in their sins, and thus instead of bringing those that are afar off by "their chaste conversation" and lovely spirit, to seek and serve the Saviour; they are repulsive agents hindering the work of the Lord; and instead of

gathering with the Saviour, scattering abroad, and stumbling blocks in the way of sinners.

Reader, dear reader, would you be useful, would you glorify God, would you have bright hopes of heaven, would you die in peace? Walk closely with God, uprightly in the world, and glorify the Saviour by heart, lip, and life, uniting to shew forth his praise.

"Lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin "--

'Now cleanse my soul from every sin,
By my Redeemer's blood;
Now let my flesh and soul begin
The honours of my God.'

E. E.

POPERY IN NEWFOUNDLAND.

IN your Number for April 1836, the Missionary Journal of Archdeacon Wix of Newfoundland is reviewed. At the pages 28-31, of the first edition of that work, and pages 22-25 of the second, there is mention of a man, whom the Archdeacon met at Long Harbour in Placentia Bay, a Protestant, surrounded by Roman Catholics, many of whom had been converts from protestantism; and a promise is recorded upon the pages of the Journal, that the poor fellow, who had retained his profession amid many trials, having not seen a minister of his own church, or of any protestant communion, for the greater number of the one-andtwenty years which he had spent in the island-should have Prayer Book, which he requested, sent to him.

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It has been my lot lately to visit this part of the island of Newfoundland, and I had no difficulty in discovering J. G. fishing off the Ram Islands. He was a simple person, and prized the books which had been sent him by the Archdeacon very highly. But he had had to contend with much ridicule

in using them; and many are the artifices to which his Romish neighbours have resorted to shake his faith. One method, which has been tried in vain with him, I am desirous to put on record. Incredible as it may appear to the English reader, I can vouch for the fact of its having been resorted to with success in several instances in that neglected island, where our original protestant settlers are, many of them deplorably ignorant, and their children and grand-children from the absence in many places, of all means of education,

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more ignorant still. Many proselytes have been gained to the Church of Rome by the following trick-To shake the confidence of poor simple person in his Bible, or in protestantism generally, (for this trick is most frequently practised upon those who are too ignorant to read ;) it is proposed that the protestant Bible and the Roman catholic Bible; the English Prayer Book, and the Romish Prayer Book should be subjected to the test of water. Both the books are put out of doors for a night, and the parties are mutually pledged to give

confidence to the book which shall be found dry in the morning while the other shall be wet, and vice versa. J. G. submitted his Bible, and then his Prayer Book to this trial, and it is almost unnecessary to say that, while the poor fellow was conversing with his Roman catholic neighbours by the fireside, some person, previously engaged to the service, was ready to dip the book, which it was most

important should be found wet, into a bucket of water. J. G., I am happy to say was shrewd enough to propose that he should sit up with his book another time; he saw through the deception; but I have positively seen simple people in that island who had been cheated by this lying delusion into the profession of this fruitful mother of abominations. VIATOR.

THE NATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT.

IN A LETTER TO A FRIEND.

AFTER all that has been said against the Established Church, it must be allowed the Lord has made her the seat and repository of divine truth, in an eminent degree. On which account she is certainly entitled to our reverence and esteem. This however, is not all, for by a strict and firm adherence to the doctrines of her Articles, Homilies, and Liturgy, in the case of many of her ministers, she has bred thousands of eminent Christians, to this day. Rom. xiii. 13. " Render to all their due, honour to whom honour," &c.

That this church is connected with the State can be no dishonour or real disadvantage: for by such a union, through which it is supported by the State, it becomes its preservation from perishing, as states and kingdoms have done in long succession from the want of such a union; Isaiah lx. 12. "For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee, shall perish." And what church of Christ, in such a world as this, can subsist without a close relation to secular or worldly things, or without availing itself thereof? Our dissenting Our dissenting churches are obliged to submit to this practice for their preservation and continuance. Nor do ministers or people object to the mea

sure. In every pastor chosen, consultation is adopted as to the temporal support needful for the maintenance of religious worship. And this kind of support is deemed, through all our churches, essential to their existence. The secular therefore, must be united with the spiritual part, though held in subordination to it, to keep it in being, as well as to aid its spiritual operations and services. This was the case with the first churches, and must continue to be so to the last. 1 Cor. ix.

If the Established Church has its blemishes and imperfections, it is no marvel, for what church can be without, when the very first had theirs, 1 Cor. xi. Rev. ii. iii. There is nothing perfect under the sun, even when all has been done to render it as much so as the case will allow. If however secular things must be joined with spiritual, in a public religious capacity, as in a private individual one; and if this can be done with no real injury to the spiritual, why should we so strongly oppose such a relation in the Establishment. And when we can remove all the errors and inconveniences which attach to our own system, we may then find more just occasion to complain of the church, Matt. vii. 4. As it is, we ought to be thankful, in my

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