Observe a rigid economy of time, which will leave you much leisure to bestow on the wretched and needy. Young ladies may have many methods of charity. There are occasionally small portions of time, which would hang heavily upon their hands, were they not usefully employed in providing cordials for the sick, or cloathes for the destitute; and a good name, acquired by such acts of benevolence, is infinitely richer, and more precious than gold. Charity is the highest excellence and ornament of our sex. The whole group of external accomplishments, does not weigh half so much, in the estimation of the amiable and discerning. How dear,

and how rich too, is the bosom, that heaves with compassion for the suffering. How lovely the eyes that glisten with tears of pity for the miseries of the outcast and forsaken. How blest is the heart that searches out the widow and orphan, relieves the distressed, and consoles the dying. Oh! my dear, cherish all that is lovely in woman, the internal graces of the heart.

Cultivate true politeness, for, says a celebrated female author, "It grows out of true principle, and is consistent with gospel piety." Let your manners be artless, undesigning, and unstudied-your whole deportment sweetened with meekness and simplicity, and all your conduct cloathed with love. Seek neither to shine with the gay nor triumph with the proud, but let virtue reign in your breast; issue forth and adorn your life with innocence and modesty," the brightest ornaments of woman." I would enlarge on this subject, but I cannot close this epistle without saying a few words upon the more important concerns of your eternal welfare.

"Covet earnestly the best gifts, and yet I show unto you a more excellent way." Your responsibility is every day increasing as your moral and intellectual light increases. All the means of grace, which you enjoy, add to your debt of gratitude, and will augment your happiness or misery in the world of spirits. How afflictive then is the consideration that, with your superior advantages, you are still exerting an influence on the side of Satan; for so it is, my dear, unless you are decidedly Christ's, unless your heart is with him, you are

building up the cause of destruction, and will finally plunge yourself in the ruins. Permit me to intreat you, by all the love I bear for your immortal soul, not to defer attending to a subject of such infinite moment, as its welfare involves. Is it a matter of little consequence whether you are at last to sink down in endless misery, or rise to a blissful immortality? Can you be regardless of a subject which involves your eternal interest? Oh! be intreated immediately to seek a better portion, a richer treasure, a more enduring substance, than this poor earth can bestow. Soon, very soon, these fleeting scenes will be past. The social circle will be broken, the gay cease to amuse, the young to excite admiration, and all these transitory, and visionary pleasures be exchanged for the solemn realities of eternity. To the departing soul, this earth affords no consolation, it tenders no comforts, it proffers no hopes. Nothing but the religion of our Divine Saviour can mitigate the anguish of the bed of death, and transport the dying penitent to the Paradise of God. Never fancy that religion will make you gloomy. There is no gloom attached to the religion of Jesus. The Christian does indeed experience many melancholy hours for his departures from the divine standard of his life. But when the Saviour spreads his banner over him, and condescends to commune with him, earth is too narrow to support his joy. But I need not reason with you, my Dear, your heart gives full assent to the truth. May your life bear testimony to its

comforts.

You will pardon my anxiety for her, who feels all that a sister's love can prompt her to feel. Dedicate yourself to the Lord without reserve. Devote yourself in heart and in life to his service, and you shall have treasure in heaven.

INFLUENCE OF THE GOSPEL.

THAT "the tree is known by its fruits," is a maxim which is supported by the experience of ages, and sanctioned by the authority of Heaven. We cannot always judge of moral principles in the abstract. Their particular operation, as connected with the interests of the world, is often necessary in order to justify us in pronouncing an opinion either in their favour or against them. That must be intrinsically good, which, in its natural, legitimate, and unrestrained effect, subtracts even a few particles from the accumulated amount of human misery, and adds even a few drops to the cup of sublunary enjoyment. Any principle or institution, which is calculated to produce these effects ought to be welcomed as a good angel, the object of whose mission is to compose the conflicts of a jarring world, to repair the devastations wrought by sin, and to scatter a few rays of heaven's own blessed light upon the nations of the earth. Speculations, which are connected with no practical good, are of little worth. The wise-drawn theories which are calculated only to amuse and gratify the moonstruck brain of him with whom they originated, occupy a low place in the estimation of the practical philosopher. This is a world of energy and action: and every thing adapted to the work of reformation, every principle calculated to raise and purify the earth, and every institution which can heal the wounds of bleeding nature and augment the population of Heaven, ought to be held in requisition for these benevolent labours.

Of the purity of Christain principles, there can be no question. Every doubt on the subject is forever put to rest, even the enemies of this system themselves being judges. To the operation of this Religion we are indebted, that every City is not a Sodom, and every land "a field of blood," and to this may be attributed all the delicacy of sentiment and correctness of moral feeling, which distinguish us from the licentious Mussulman, and the remorseless Pagan. We cannot forbear subjoining the inference to which this fact unavoidably leads us, that

those who make war against the Gospel are not the friends of moral purity. A wish to extinguish the Sun of the moral System must be connected with the "love of darkness rather than light."

То

The tendency of Christain Institutions is by no means equivocal The Gospel has both a direct and indirect operation upon every thing which relates to man. say nothing of that joy unspeakable which it is capable of infusing into the bosom of its humble votary, or of that consolation with which it can bind up the bleeding heart, or of that starry crown and wavering palm, and perpetuity of bliss to which it points in the beatific re gions of the paradise of God; to say nothing of these effects of the Gospel, it ever excites throughout the great mass of human society an influence, which is too often overlooked or undervalued, both by its enemies and by its friends. There is not an institution of man in civil society, but feels the power, I had almost said the omnipotence, of the Gospel. Political systems, and moral creeds, and philosophical theories have been moulded or modified, by the doctrines inculcated and the institutions erected by the word of God. The governments of the world have felt the influence, the moral face of the globe has changed for the better, and evils of the most malignant character have been diminished where they have not been annihilated. It is true that our

world still abounds with evil. It presents to the weeping eye of philanthropy a dark and gloomy picture. An Angel might drop a tear upon the earth, and mingle the sigh of sympathy with the groans of its suffering popula tion; but the Gospel and its Institutions have effected much; the history of all the nations of antiquity presents to us almost uninterrupted scenes of tyranny, devastation, and blood. Modern warfare is much less sanguinary, and modern government much less despotic, than ancient; More civil liberty is enjoyed and fewer crimes stain the records of the earth. Had a change of this magnitude been effected in the lapse of a few years, it would have appeared like the operation of a charm or a miracle. What learning, and talents, and power, and wealth, and experience, and centuries could not accomplish, has been

gradually and imperceptibly brought about by the secret though powerful operations of christain institutions.

Had it not been for the influence of the Gospel, I venture to say, that barbarism would to this day have overspread the earth; idols would have been our deities. The iron hand of ancient despotism would have continued to crush the inhabitants of the world and such a system of government as our own happy country enjoys, would never have found a place in the records of nations.

I have only time to add, that to the Gospel we are indebted for almost every thing that is good, and by this we enjoy an exemption from much that is evil. To this system we may trace the mercies which cheer our lives, the consolations which sweeten our afflictions, the power which plucks away the sting of death, and the lamp which pours its splendour into the grave and darts some of its rays across the confines of that broad eternity which borders on time.

A. T****.

ON LENGTHY PIECES.

For the Monitor.

Mr. Editor,

ALTHOUGH the pages of your Magazine seem to be written by men of learning, still I hope you will be disposed for once to bear patiently with one who is plain and unlearned. Surely I would not expose my scribbling to public notice, did I not think it might possibly contain some suggestions, that would prove useful to the Editor and writers of the Monitor. Being a constant reader of this and of some other monthly publications, I have had a good opportunity to notice the great variety in the length of the pieces they contain. Now I confess, Mr. Editor, that I am much better pleased, and I believe generally as well edified, by reading the short pieces, as those which are the longest. And I do think, that, were some of the directors of these publications