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portant—while the affairs of eternity increase in interest, until the END of life seems to be to prepare for the future.

I know not whether I have expressed myself correctly; but it seems to me that it is the height of folly to plunge, as many do, in the vortex of business, so as to make the acquisition of wealth the chief concern of life. How large a portion of the world, among whom are many, well off in the things of this life, who devote part of the first day of the week to get gain, and the small remainder to pleasure. I do not say they quite forsake the duties of religion; but they attend to them only, when they cannot attend to their secular money-getting concerns. Now I contend, that infinitely the most important consideration for a man is-NOT whether he shall have bread to eat, water to drink, and raiment to put on, in his short and trying pilgrimage—BUT, whether he has a heaven in which to spend the eternity before him—I am persuaded this-auri sacra fames5 is utterly opposed to a spirit of vital religion. The Holy Ghost has said

"Cursed love of gold."-VIRGIL.

ου δύνασθε Θεῷ δουλευειν και μαμμωνα. 6 For my own part, I may say—without supposing myself free from the infirmities of a sinful nature that this chief piece of the Devil's artillery, has not so much influence with me as some; indeed, avarice, for want of a better word, is a passion which grows; and therefore, frequently has more hold of the aged than of the young-an awful thought! Without egotism-though I speak with some fear, lest I should not express my feelings correctly. a hard task!-I think, at times I have had somewhat of the feeling, described by Jane Taylor, in her "How it strikes a stranger!"-that I have felt myself placed upon this planet for a very transient period; and have, I hope, wished -despising the grovelling and little pursuits of the great and the rich-to seek to know only how-when this earthly tabernacle is dissolvedI have a far more glorious one, 66 ETERNAL

may

IN THE HEAVENS."

1834, 7 mo. 27th.- Last 4th day, I attended the interment of all that was mortal of

6 "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon."--Matt. vi. 24.

M. S. T, aged about sixteen. I cannot help thinking of that passage of the admirable Fenelon, where he describes the death of Hercules-" Le feu consuma bientôt tout ce qu'il y avait de terrestre et de mortel en lui; mais il conserva, par l'ordre de Jupiter, cette nature subtile et immortelle, cette flamme celeste, qui est le principe de la vie, et qu'il avait reçue du père des dieux."-How beautifully the last conflict and the attributes of the soul are here depicted! For those who shrink with pious fear from any thing clothed in the language of Roman mythology, I offer the beautiful description of another celebrated man, the eloquent, the Christian Massillon

"Cette âme, participant déjà à la grandeur et à l'immutabilité du Dieu, auquel elle va se réunir, elle est elevée au-dessus de tout; elle est déjà immobile dans le sein de Dieu, au milieu de la destruction de toutes choses."-May

7 The fire soon consumed all that was earthly and mortal in him; but he preserved, by the order of Jupiter, that subtle and immortal nature, that celestial flame, which is the principle of life, and which he had received from the father of the gods.

This soul, participating already with the greatness and the unchangeableness of that God with whom it is about to be

H

this passage describe the experience of her who is no more· -of us who are left!

1834,9 mo. 19th.-In looking back on these pages from this last leaf, I trust some improvement will be found in this volume, and that it is a better one than the last. The Diary — though, I trust, not a barren list of little events—will give a tolerable idea of my employments; and, I hope—what I consider of far more value in my autobiography — will convey my thoughts and opinions, and the developement of my ideas; being fully conscious it will be of more value to know how I felt, than what I did. The outlines of lectures have been of use in aiding memory. My original matter has not, I hope, wanted marks of improvement; but that in all, there is proof of some progression.

--11 mo. 16th.-On the 26th of 9th month, I

united, it is raised above every thing; it is already immovable in the bosom of God, in the midst of the destruction of all things.

9 The manuscript comprises several volumes.-ED.

retired to rest at the accustomed time, enjoying apparently usual health. In the night, I was awoke by a loose cough, very different from any I remembered before; but it was not till morning, after getting out of bed and spitting on my handkerchief, that I found I had ruptured a vessel. I was bled by ten leeches that afternoon, and kept for ten days very low; after that I began to sit up, and to eat fish and fowl. I have had no return, but am still confined to the house, first and second floors. I may eat fowl, game, mutton, &c. Indeed, my medical friend said, my recovery was as rapid and favourable as he could have expected, without any relapse.

HAVING, in the preceding page, filled up the chasm in my Diary, arising from my late illness, I desire to return thanks to Him who has so mercifully raised me up; and who, though it has pleased Him to permit this dispensation to overtake me for wise and good purposes; yet has given me so good a time in my illness, without

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