longs for the period in which the body of sin and of death shall be effectually destroyed; when mortality shall be swallowed up of life, and the soul be put in full possession of its joy!

But should these delightful seasons of communion with the Father of mercies be happily secured from interruption; with what reluctance must the Christian quit her peaceful solitude to enter the house divided against itself!-where nothing of God, or that savours of religion, can meet the smile of approbation-where "he that is after the flesh, is persecuting her that is after the spirit"-where the sneer of contempt is perpetually grieving the heart, or the silent frown of sullenness checking that social intercourse which was graciously intended as the balm of domestic life.

But the infelicity peculiar to such marriages is not merely personal: it frequently extends to every branch of the family and if there be children, the believing wife will find her troubles rapidly increase. New difficulties will occur respecting domestic duties, and also respecting some branches of instruction supposed necessary to complete the modern system of education. Her views of both will be different, and in some things opposite to those of her husband and in matters of religion this difference will be greatly augmented. Every attempt to impress the tender mind with the worth of divine things, may be thought ill-timed or improper; or may be soon effaced by those amusements and vanities which he may consider as perfectly innocent, and a part of his duty to make them participate. This disagreement concerning the same things, will be easily perceived by the children; and respecting these deno

minated worldly pleasures, you might in vain solicit attention to arguments designed to enforce restraint; for restraint, in their view, must repress desire and preclude enjoyment; but it would be perfectly natural for them to concur with the wishes of their father without hesitancy; because these wishes correspond with that love of terrestrial delights, the possession of which both old and young, rich and poor, too frequently regard as the completion of happiness.

That children need nothing to counteract pious endeavours to promote their everlasting welfare, I will not attempt to prove. You must be convinced, that to effect even an appearance of virtue, is a task of labour and of difficulty-a task which, when faithfully performed, is frequently performed in vain: and if this be acknowledged, as I think it must, what success can be reasonably expected in attempting to impress the mind with the worth of divine truth, when jarring opinions are formed of its importance and its use; and when the pupil must discover that the precepts and example of his tutors are perpe. tually at variance?

But to enumerate the trials, or the sources of inquietude to which a child of God may be exposed in such a connexion, were endless. They are, besides, of such magnitude and so various, as to make it matter of astonishment that a real saint should ever think of happiness where the prospect of misery is so abundantly greater; not to mention the flagrant violation of a divine precept-of positive law in this case provided.

I am, &c.

D

LETTER III.

To grasp at happiness is all our view,
Through diff'rent tracks her footsteps we pursue;
While each his own fallacious path approves,
As int'rest leads, or inclination moves:

Yet most through error lose the wish'd-for way,
Who sets out wrong must wander far astray.

NOTWITHSTANDING what I have said in the preceding letters, it may possibly be urged that reciprocal esteem and affection are essential to happiness; and that you cannot meet with a person, in the circle of your religious connexions, with whom you can promise yourself the enjoyment of felicity. Strange indeed! that among the many thousands of God's Israel, there should not be one whose person and accomplishments can find access to your heart!

"It is not," says an elegant writer, "often difficult to find a suitable companion, if every man would be content with such as he is qualified to please. But if vanity tempts him to forsake his rank, and post himself among those with whom no common interest or mutual pleasure can ever unite him, he must always live in a state of unsocial separation, without tenderness and without trust."

Suppose, however, you were to leave the church and return to the world; are you certain that the difficulty would be entirely removed? The number of individuals, it is true, would be greater; for in a detached view, the flock of Christ ever was, and still continues to be comparatively small. But it is possible, even among these, that the object of desire

might feel no reciprocal attachment, and could, therefore, never be enjoyed: and you would attempt in vain to sooth the sorrows of disappointment by the remembrance of there yet being unbounded diversity of choice; because no positive assurance could be obtained that the man would solicit attention, who was, in all respects, what capricious fancy might denominate the standard of excellence.

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"A woman, in this country," says Dr. Gregory, may easily prevent the first impressions of love, and every motive of prudence and delicacy should make her guard her heart against them, till such time as she has received the most convincing proofs of the attachment of a man of such merit, as will justify a reciprocal regard.-Your heart indeed may be shut, inflexibly and permanently, against all the merit a man can possess. That may be your misfortune, but cannot be your fault. In such a situation, you would be equally unjust to yourself and your lover, if you gave him your hand when your heart revolted against him. But miserable will be your fate, if you allow an attachment to steal on you before you are sure of a return; or, what is infinitely worse, where there are wanting those qualities which alone can insure happiness in a married state."

I am, nevertheless, willing to admit that the objection produced is popular and specious: and were it allowable to attempt to extenuate a breach of divine law when committed to gratify the claims of affection, much, in reference to your sex, might be said apparently plausible. They frequently may not have it in their power to gratify the wishes of the heart: but with a man it is otherwise. Custom has conferred on him the exclusive privilege of selection.

He may deliberate before he determine; and if denied admission to one object, he can retire without the shame of disgrace; and when time shall efface the impression that compelled him to hazard a refusal, he may solicit access to another without fear of reproach, or the imputation of caprice. For him therefore who shall, while avowedly a disciple of Christ, attach himself to one who is a stranger to his Gospel and his grace, no apology can with decency be made. His conduct is highly criminal indeed! He bids defiance to restraint: and without having it in his power to assign any admissible pretext to remove, or even to palliate his guilt, tramples on that authority which has graciously interposed to show him the path of duty and of happiness!

Is there, it may be asked, no self-denial attached to the Christian profession when the commands of Christ oppose the gratification of irregular desires? Are the disciples of the despised Galilean to expect no trials-to encounter no difficulties-to conflict

with no enemy? Whence then that admonitory caution, If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Remember Him, Melissa, that, in doing the will of his heavenly Father, pleased not himself, but bore reproach and chastened his soul with fastingThat made sackcloth his garment, and became the song of the drunkard-who had gall for his meat, and vinegar for drink; and who said to his followers, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow