when you are reviled, not to revile again; and even when you suffer, not to threaten.

You see, my brother, I have many reasons for urging upon you these solemn warnings and earnest entreaties. I beseech you to believe in Christ. I beseech you to take his yoke upon you, and learn of him, for "his yoke is easy, and his burden is light." I beseech you to learn of him to be meek and lowly. I intreat you to do these things, if you would save your own soul; if you would fulfil the best and most earnest wishes of an affectionate and only brother; if you would, in some degree, alleviate the sorrow of one who is soon to part with all he holds dear on earth; and finally, if you would comfort our bereaved parents, if you would make up the breach which the resistless hand of death has so lately made, and which the imperious calls of duty soon must make again, in that little family which I must try to think no longer my home,

My dear Mother;

St. Andrew's, February 14, 1826.

My work of letter writing has taken up nearly all my private time, for two days; and I still feel that there are some who may be expecting to hear from me, to whom it will be quite impossible for me to write. Although I have written to my father, (which I always think the same as writing to you,) yet I cannot think of letting my parcel go, without sending a few lines expressly to yourself. All my friends seem doubly dear to me, since I have thought of parting with them. There was nothing in the prospect of a separation, my dear mother, that gave me greater pain, than the

thought of wounding your feelings; and, accordingly, in my late visit, I was very much rejoiced to hear you speak so calmly and resignedly on the subject. Even in this life, God has promised to restore a hundred-fold any thing we give up for his sake. And I do think, that even these trials in themselves carry a blessing along with them. The prospect of an early separation from all I hold dear on earth,-bitter as the thought is, has, notwithstanding, proved to me a real blessing. I have felt an inexpressible dreariness in looking forward, while I think only of the things that are seen and temporal. But then, the very dreariness which seems to hang over my earthly prospects, has led me to look more earnestly to heaven, as my home, and the place of my rest. And, if we can but steadily fix the eye of faith on the heavenly inheritance, the glory of the promised land will shed a brightness even over the gloomiest part of this valley of tears. I know, my dear mother, that you have many trials; and I could wish much to soothe the declining years of that dear friend, who watched over my helpless infancy. I would like to be able to make some return for the anxious hours, and the sleepless nights, I have cost you. This I may never have in my power; but wherever my lot may be cast, I shall never forget the tenderness of a mother's love;-never shall I forget the affectionate solicitude which brought you to our bed-side every evening, to see that all was safe with us, ere your own eye could close in sleep:-never shall I forget But it is wrong to indulge in this. Let us forget the things that are behind, and rather delight to dwell on the glory and the happiness that are before us. Oh, how highly favored are we, my mother, with the

blessed hope of a glorious immortality! God, it is true, has removed one of your children; and, for his sake, you are called to give up another;but still, though the cup may be bitter, it is a Father's hand that has mingled it. "Trials make the promise sweet." You will be able now, more than ever, to enjoy the delightful assurance, that the Lord will be to his people a portion, better than of sons and daughters.

And again, if we but think of what Christ has done for us, we shall not think any sacrifice too great that we can make for him. He left the bosom of the Father, and emptied himself of his glory, and suffered more than ever man suffered, and died for us. Should we not then feel all the force of the argument, which tells us we are not our own, having been bought by Christ; when he gave his blood as our ransom price? Is it not then a reasonable service, to offer our bodies a living sacrifice to him? And then, there is the blest assurance, that if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him.

The following is to the afflicted friend, to whom some of his former letters were addressed.

My very dear friend;

St. Andrew's, March 5, 1826.

You can easily conceive how difficult it is for a young person, enjoying in all its fulness, the inestimable blessing of health, and whose mind is ever actively engaged with one subject or another, all at once to place himself in the circumstances of an aged and long afflicted christian. Yet this I

sympathy with your feelings. But though I cannot enter as I could wish, into your peculiar circumstances, or write with all that closeness of sympathy, or administer that experimental consolation, which the person could, who had seen as much of life's chequered scene, and passed through like trials with yourself; yet there are always some subjects in which christians feel a common interest, however different their circumstances, and however varied their experience. The great

objects of our salvation are alike interesting in youth, and in age; in joy and in sorrow; in health and in sickness; in seasons of prosperity, and in the day of trial. What was said by a learned heathen of his favorite studies, (most beautifully, but most extravagantly in his application of it,) might with great propriety be used by the christian in speaking of the truths of the Bible: "These studies cherish youth, soothe old age, adorn prosperity, and form in adversity a refuge and consolation; at home they are our delight, abroad they are no incumbrance; they are with us by night, they journey with us, and in our country retreat they are with us still." What a pity that worldly men should be so enthusiastic in the praise of their favorite pursuits, while christians are so dull and careless about objects so much more highly deserving of their love. How few christians are there who could heartily, and from their own experience, apply to the joys and the consolations of the gospel, those ardent expressions of delight which a heathen philosopher employs in regard to merely human learning. So true is it, that the children of this world are wiser in their generation, than the children of light.

I should suppose, that to an aged christian who

cannot look for much longer continuance in the church below, the state and employment of the church above, must be peculiarly interesting. To all christians it must be a subject of the most delightful contemplation; but more especially to those who hope to be very soon released from the prison house of the body. It was the joy set before him, which bore our Lord through the ignominy, and the torture of his sufferings. And surely the prospect of such a glory as is set before his disciples, may well encourage and support them through every difficulty and every trial.

may well reconcile us to suffer with Christ, when we know that this is the sure pledge of our reigning with him. They who have been deepest in suffering for Christ's sake, shall be highest in glory. They who would sit on his right hand, when he is seated on his throne, must drink of the bitter cup which he drank of, and must be baptized with the bloody baptism with which he was baptized. The first disciples knew this, and therefore they were not only patient, but joyful in suffering, and were even apt to run into the extreme of courting danger. They did not count the tribulation of the gospel as trials, to which it was a painful duty to submit; but they regarded them as honors, which it was no ordinary favor to win. "For unto you it is given, in the behalf of Christ, (says the Apostle Paul,) not only to believe on him, but also (higher privilege still!) to suffer for his sake." It is labor and fatigue which gives to rest and repose their great value. Indeed we have no idea of rest where there has been no previous weariness or fatigue, and the harder the toil, or the more distressing the uneasiness, the sweeter is the rest which succeeds it. I have had