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That branch of the subject is therefore as far as possible avoided Points of practical difficulty in the conduct of social life were principally adverted to in the application for advice.s The author was requested to enforce the social duties of Christianity, to shew that the spirit of our holy religion requires ho gloomy austerity, justifiesono captious exceptions to the conduct of others, permits nó unkind neglect of relas tions and friends, no self-willed defiance of parental authority. It was his object to convince the individual he addressed that herviews of Christian duty were mistaken; not so much that they were too exalted or too strict, as that they were uncharitable or, which is the same thing, unscriptural. No views can be too exalted, no zeal too fer vent, no obedience too strict, in ancase where eternal happiness is at stake, and the will of Almighty God is graciously revealed for the instruction of man.embet not then

the worldly minded a reader imagide that these pages are designed to justify his indifference, or to palliate the lukewarmness of his faithǝThey weres writtens for othe advancement of true piety in a mind earnestly seeking the truth they are made public in the hope that they may be useful to others in the same situation. They may be thought perhaps to be directed against as class of professing Christians who sepa rate themselves from the general society of the world. 2 But they are directed against principles, not against persons; and it is trusted that individuals of that class will not object to having their principles ens quired into, and tried by God's word, so it be done in fairness and good temper Their principles may be objected to, esteemed unchristian, and most carefully avoided, by one, who, though no convert from their doctrines, has yet good reason to say to themselves, in the spirit of St.

Augustine's address to the Manichæans", "Let them rail bitterly against you whọ

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i know not with what labour truth is discovered, how hard it is to avoid error; let them rail bitterly against you who * know not how rare, how difficult it is to overpower the imaginations of the flesh, and to acquire in their stead the tranquillity of a devout state of mind;

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Je li sæviant in vos qui nesciunt quo cum labore ¿† verum inveniatur, et quam difficillime caveantur errores. Illi in vos sæviant qui nesciunt quam rarum **et arduum sit carnalia phantasmata piæ mentis serenitate superare. Illi in vos sæviant qui nesciunt 1 quanta difficultate sanetur oculus interioris hominis, but possit intueri solem suum. Illi in vos sæviant, qui nesciunt quantis, gemitibus et suspiriis fat ut ex quantulacunque parte possit intelligi De Deus. "Postremo illi in vos sæviant qui nullo tali errore décepti sunt, quali vos deceptos vident. Ego autem sævire in vos omnino non possum, quos sicut me “ipsum illo tempore, ita nunc debeo sustinere, et "tanta patientia vobiscum agere, quanta mecum "egerunt proximi mei, cum in vestro dogmate rabio“sus et cæcus errarem.”

¿ get thems rail bitterly against you, WHO « know not by what a toilsome process the « eye of the inner man must be healed, for at to behold its proper light, the Sun of

Righteousness; let them rail bitterly 3 against you who know not by what sighs and groanings that study must be ac• companied, which should lead to any “degree whatsoever of the knowledge of "God; lastly, let them rail bitterly against "you who have never themselves.been

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deluded by an error like that which they perceive in you. For myself, I can in

but rather

no wise rail against you; but rath

ff must I now bear with you as once of old *" with myself, and now treat you with the

same mildness and patience which, in the "days of my own blind wanderings into off the very same opinions, I experienced 39 from my friends.” qan olli muaqu musem sixsup 19ge news for situeiraq Blust " -oids stamgob ou497 at muo Jem imizorq Ja1999