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VIII.

IX.

-To a young Lady, the language of whose heart is, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"

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-To a young Lady, who, soon after making a public profession of religion, almost forgot the Lord that bought her, and too lightly esteemed the Rock of her salvation.

X.To a rich influential Lady

XI.- -To a pious Female in reduced cir

cumstances

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XII. -To a Lady subject to occasional
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XIII.

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-To a Female Friend, who is "unknown, yet well known"

THOUGHTS on the Duty of Praying in Schools .

PREFACE.

"To do good, and to communicate, forget not.”—If, instead of this, the injunction were To get good and to receive,' &c. we know not whether this little volume would ever have made its appearance, unless it were to show a certain "good sort of people" among us, that the precept, as it now reads, is just as good a one, and as well worthy of remembrance and obedience. For those who really feel that they are good for nothing,' will need no arguments but their own experience to satisfy them, that the terms "to do good," and "to get good," however lexicographers may define then, do, in practice, both amount to one and the same thing.These will understand how to demonstrate the proposition, that No one knows any thing about the enjoyment of true happiness himself, who is not possessed of a disposition to wish and strive for the greatest possible happiness of others, to the utmost extent of his knowledge and abilities. But all are not thus. And even of those who are thus, essentially, it is painful to remark, that, while in this world, they are still children of Adam-too apt to dwell much on the speculative definition of "doing good," and neglect the practical; to curb their knowledge down tc their feelings, instead of spurring their feelings up to their knowledge; to cry down their own influence and underrate their abilities; and thus, at length, to almost forget their peculiarly “bigh vocation," that they live.

in an age of wonders; an age of pious exertion and benevolent enterprise; an age when they can no longer possess the name of Christians, and character of idlers; an age which is evidently the harbinger of that in which nothing shall be enterprised but for the glory of God in the happiness of man; when " none shall hurt or destroy," but all shall be “Holiness to the Lord,” and thus" on earth, peace, and good will to men."

Hence the present publication.-To its patrons it scems necessary to remark, that, for certain reasons, it was thought unadviseable at present to carry it to the extent of the plan suggested in the proposals. At a future period, by the blessing of Providence, it may be resumed, and extended further than barely to the female sex, many of whom have already, especially in this country, made rapid and unparalleled advances by their exertions in behalf of ruined man, towards the mark "she has done what she could." Thus presented to the public, as it is, brief and unfinished, its circumstances must be its only apology; its object, its recommendation to eve ry "honest heart,” (a word to the wise is sufficient;} its success, the blessing of Him who can render successful the feeblest essays of his feeblest servants, to "do good."

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PRACTICAL HINTS,

&c.

LETTER I.

TO AN AGED LADY.

Much respected Madam,

Ir is not without some diffidence and hesitation that I now address you. Young in years and experience, it is natural for me, with the world, to look forward to eighty as a period almost inconceivably remote, and say, surely "with length of days there is wisdom." But there is another view, in which we both appear, although of far different ages, to be children of the same Parent, members of the same family, and travellers to the same eternity; in the light of which, the difference between the longest and the shortest terrestrial existence is a mere point, and extremely minute. The latter, I suppose you will allow, is the more correct view-nearer the reality. You will not, then, take it amiss, that I attempt in this way to vindicate my claim to a fraternal relationship, by a fraternal office of affection. And if B

dear Madam, I were to study a month to ascertain how I could perform the most affectionate office, and do you the most possible good, I should conclude, at last, it would be by pointing out the means, and adducing the motives, which would probably be connected with leading you in the way of doing the most good yourself.

But methinks, (for I know how the adversary of souls can take advantage of bodily weakness, to destroy the energy of the soul,) methinks I hear you say, I am a poor, old, unprofitable servant-I have never done but very little, if any good in the world; and now it is all over with me. Others, happy souls, who have the day before them, may be useful by their exertions; but I am even now groping in the twilight of that " night wherein no man can work." But these desponding thoughts, dear Madam," are not of Him who calleth us." He has not authorized one of his servants in this world ever to say,

My work is done." This is an order He sends by none other than the pale messenger. Nor does he give to any, just grounds to fear a lack of strength equal to their day. "My grace is sufficient for thee," and "They that wait on the Lord shall increase their strength,' are promises not designed exclusively or principally for the young convert. And these are texts, of which I trust you have, in some

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