She devoted herself to the service of Christ in her youth. And who is there that can refuse to approve and applaud her choice? How amiable and happy does she appear! Had she made an opposite choice, and neglected religion in the pursuit of sensual gratifications, and the indulgence of pride and a worldly mind, giving herself up to the levity, vanity, and folly, which commonly take place in the companies and conversation of youth; without any concern for her soul and future existence, or proper improvement of her mental powers, how mean, despicable and miserable would she have been! Let young persons attend to the contrast, and learn wisdom. The only way properly to enlarge their mental capacities; to put on true worth and dignity; to be happy here, and for ever, is to devote themselves to the service of Christ. How amiable is early piety! What a happy foundation does it lay for improvement in every worthy attainment, and true enjoyment; which will issue in distinguished glory and happiness for ever! Can you begin too soon to be reasonable, amiable and happy, and to lay up this everlasting treasure in heaven? The course which Miss Anthony took from her youth, and the life she lived, was attended with many pains and distresses, as the reader will observe; but as these were necessary, and the way which her wise and kind Savior took to cure her of her moral disorders, and fit her for heaven; and were attended with a real enjoyment and happiness, which unspeakably surpasses all the happiness they do or can enjoy, who are strangers to true religion; these difficulties and pains which attend it, do not afford the least reason or excuse for neglecting it for a moment. Consistent with all this, the yoke, the service of Christ, is easy, and his burden light. It is also true that if youth devote themselves to religion, they may expect to be overlooked, if not despised, by worldly people, as disagreeable to them, and unworthy their company, who are pursuing only the pleasures of sense, and the enjoyment of the things of this world, as the great and only good, and are fond of the enchanting amusements, gaiety, grandeur, and riches of this world. But how little and light a thing it is to be wholly neglected or despised by such deluded fools; when it is only for that character and conduct, for which they ought to esteem, love and caress you; and for which you have the approbation of Heaven, and of all the wise and good on earth! And at the same time you are feasted with a rich and delicious entertainment, and are going into complete, endless happiness, while they are attempting to satisfy themselves with husks, and are plunging into endless miseries! If the gay, rich and great of this world, who are strangers to real piety, who delight in show and parade, to glitter in costly array, and shine at balls and assemblies, and know no higher good than the enjoyment of such companies; the diversions of the theatre, stage, or card table, reading romances, or idle, senseless chat : if those of this character, whether men or women, should know how much more real worth and excellence all those who are eminently pious do possess, than themselves; how highly esteemed and beloved all such are in heaven; and how mean, foolish and despicable they appear in the sight of the Savior, and all his true friends; they would either be ashamed of themselves and repent; or their hearts would be filled with envy, rage and blasphemy! FINIS. Lyman & Hall, At the sign of the BIBLE, Insurance buildings, K Exchange-Street, PORTLAND EEP constantly on hand a large and extensive assortment of Law, Theological, Classical, Medical and Miscellaneous BOOKS: which they offer to the public by the wholesale or retail on the most liberal terms. AMONG WHICH ARE THE FOLLOWING: Carey's large Bibles of the various prices and qualities. Bibles with Canne's Notes. Common Bibles. Pocket do. Testaments-Psalm-books. Milner's Ecclesiastical History, 4 vols. Newton's Works, a superior edition, 6 vols. Edwards' Works. Walker's Key. Miss Smith's Fragments. Mrs. Montagu's Letters. The works of Walter Scott, Esq. viz.-Marmion, Lay of the Last Minstrel, Lady of the Lake, with a likeness of the Author. Beattie's Works, two prices. Scott's Essays. Smith's Letters to Belsham. Walker's Dictionary; three different editions. Perry's do. Murray's do. Flavius Josephus. Morse's Universal Geography, 2 vols. Do. abridged. Parish's Modern Geography. Adams' Lectures. Walker on Elocution. Trumbull's History of the United States. Memoirs of Mrs. Emerson. Weems' Life of General Washington. Webber's Mathematics, 2 vols. Kinne's Arithmetic. Scholar's Do. Walsh's Do.. Pike's Do. Johnson's Tour to the Hebrides. Buck's Dictionary of the Bible. Religious Experience., Pilgrim's Progress. Mason on Self-Knowledge. Milton's Paradise Lost. Various kinds of School-Books, Sta tionary, &c. |