One consideration more, and we close the subject. Be ever ready to unite with your fellow-christians in works of faith and labours of love. Man standing and working by himself, can do but very little. Our Saviour sent forth his disciples two by two; and we never act so efficiently as when we stand together, and work together as brethren. Unity is strength: one stick is easily broken; a bundle of sticks may resist a very considerable pressure. O that this were better understood and more acted upon in the perilous times in which we live, when the cry is raised against our best and highest institutions, and when the very existence of our church is threatened that church for which the life-blood of bishops and martyrs was freely poured out at the stake, and which has been instrumental in training up thousands of immortal souls for the everlasting glories of heaven!

All rules, however, are useless, if there is not devotion of heart to the service of the Lord. What I would most earnestly press upon you, my dear

, is to give yourself up, first, to the Lord, and then your feeling of anxiety will be, how you may best serve your generation according to His will. Be active, energetic, persevering. The season

for work will soon have passed away; and if it were possible for a sigh to enter the bright mansions of heaven, it would surely be that so little was done when on earth for the service of the Redeemer.

LETTER XI.

POLITENESS.

It is always held by those who knew this island in the preceding generation, that the tone of politeness is lowered among us, and certainly if we may judge by the specimens still extant of the high breeding of what is called the old school,' the mourners over modern degeneracy have, on this head, just grounds for complaint. The spirit of levelling and equality which has been floating among us for some time, appears to have infected our manners; and we do not say, but that this evil spirit may, in its ceaseless workings, at last succeed in removing all trace of hill and valley, and reducing all to one vast marsh, a stagnant, dull, dead, unprofitable morass.-But woe to England, and woe to her children, if that day should ever be per

mitted to dawn on her shores!

We are however,

about to talk of manners, not of politics, and I would only just remark as a matter of taste, that this levelling system is decidedly opposed to refinement; the higher the rank is, the more distinctly rank is recognized, and the greater is the respect paid. And yet more, it is anti-scriptural; we are commanded to render to all their dues; "tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour." The very same principle that should lead us to pay taxes, rates, and just debts, should lead us to acknowledge the lawfully established distinctions of civil society. A very beautiful example of respect to station, is given in the conduct of the Apostle Paul. When vindicating himself from the false accusations of the Jews before the Sanhedrim, the High Priest Ananias most unjustly commanded them that stood by him, to smite him on the mouth. The indignation of Paul at this palpable injustice, burst forth in a spirited invective; " God shall smite thee, thou whited wall; for sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law ?" Nothing can be more graceacknowledgment, when in-'

ful than the instant

formed of the station of the person he had thus addressed. "I wist not, brethren, that he was the High Priest for it is written, Thou shall not speak evil of the ruler of thy people."

The remark has often been made and justly, that "St. Paul was a finished gentleman." Whether we observe him before an infuriated mob, "I was zealous towards God, as ye all are this day;" or his calm self possession in the presence of Felix, "who had been for many years a governor unto that nation;" or his respectful conduct to “King Agrippa,” and the "most noble Festus ;" or trace the gracefulness —I had almost said—elegance of feeling manifested in his epistles, we shall be obliged to acknowledge that high cultivation of manners as well as mind, must naturally have characterized the disciple of Gamaliel. The point is deserving of some attention, for it has been alleged, (and the report does not appear to have originated in the enemy's country,) that there is in religious circles more brusquerie, less polish and suavity than in worldly circles of a corresponding class. Surely this ought not to be. I do not presume to give any opinion on the subject, or to pass any censure; I only say to you, in the earnestness