ADVICE TO A YOUNG CHRISTIAN, ON THE IMPORTANCE OF AIMING AT AN ELEVATED STANDARD OF PIETY. BY A VILLAGE PASTOR. WITH AN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY, BY THE REV. dr. AlexandER, OF PRINCETON, N. J. "Feed my Lambs." FOURTH EDITION, REVISED AND CORRECTED. NEW-YORK: G. & C. &. H. CARVILL, 108 BROADWAY. 1831. Southern District of New-York, 88. BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the eighteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty, and in the fifty-fourth year of the Independence of the United States of America, Zechariah Lewis, of the said district, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit: "Advice to a Young Christian, on the importance of aiming at an Elevated Standard of Piety. By a Village Pastor. With an Introductory Essay, by the Rev.. Dr. Alexander, of Princeton, N. J. 'Feed my Lambs.'" In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United States, entitled, "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned." And also to 'an Act, entitled, "An Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled, an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." FREDERICK J. BETTS, Clerk of the Southern District of New-York. JOHN T. WEST & CO. PRINTERS. PREFACE. To the Lambs of Christ's flock, whom Peter was enjoined by the Good Shepherd to feed, I dedicate this little book. The letters which compose it, were written to instruct one of their number, the daughter of an highly valued friend. Since they are now made public, it is the ardent prayer of the Author, that they may comfort and edify many more. As revivals of Religion have become so frequent, and have embraced in their sanctifying influence, so many youth of both sexes: these letters are given to the public, with the hope, that under God, they may stimulate such youth to activity in the cause of Christ; and awaken a desire for those exalted spiritual attainments, which it is their object to recommend. The age in which we live, demands a high standard of Christian character. Any thing which contributes to elevate it, must be useful. In presenting this little volume, the Author has no apologies to offer. Not that he supposes it free from defects, or impervious to the shafts of criticism; but because, if it is calculated to be useful, apologies are unnecessary; if it is not, none, however laboured or eloquent, can atone for so grand and radical a defect. ESSAY ON THE NATURE OF VITAL PIETY;-ITS SAMENESS IN ALL AGES AND COUNTRIES AND ITS VARIOUS ASPECTS IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. TRUE religion not only enlightens the understanding, but rectifies the affections of the heart. All genuine feelings of piety are the effects of divine truth. The variety and intensity of these feelings depend on the different kinds of truth, and the various aspects in which the same truth is viewed; and also, on the distinctness and clearness with which it is presented to the mind. In a state of moral perfection, truth would uniformly produce all those emotions and affections which correspond with its nature, without the aid of any superadded influence. That these effects are not experienced, by all who have the opportunity of knowing the truth, is a strong evidence of human depravity. In a state of moral depravity, the mind is incapable alike, of perceiving and feeling the beauty and excellence of divine truth. The dead neither see nor feel, and man is by nature"dead in trespasses and sins." Hence 1* |