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man.

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nothing can be more absurd than this, since nothing is more plain and obvious, than that the nature and attributes of an infinite Being (which even they allow God to be) cannot be fully comprehended by such finite creatures as we are. Can we by searching find out God? Can we find out the Almighty to perfection? He is high as heaven, what can we do? Deeper than hell, what can we know?" So little, truly, that we neither know nor understand ourselves. It is no more contrary to reason that three should be one God, than that a soul and a body should be one We can understand neither, we have the same authority for both, yet many who believe the latter deny the former. To preserve you from these and such like errors and absurdities, I have ordered my bookseller to send you Skelton's Sermons; if at a leisure hour on a Sunday, or so, you look into them, I think you will be pleased with the nervous style in which they are written, and with the close reasoning they contain; but they require attention, as all close reasoning must. The first volume contains all the grand doctrines of Christianity, their proofs, and answers to such objections as have been made to them. I have also sent you a very small book of Mr. Nelson's, (Nelson on the Sacrament,) the first part of which may be useful to you at present, and the remainder all your life long. For though, when we have ratified and completed our baptism at confirmation, we are entitled to the pardon of our sins past, and to eternal happiness; yet this is on condition that, for the time to come, we avoid sin and live as Christians ought; and he knows little of himself, who thinks he can do this without the assistance and protection of the Almighty; and the means he has appointed to obtain these is the Holy Eucharist, or the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper; which, therefore, all Christians ought to receive as often as they

have opportunity; it being (as a great divine observed) as necessary to the health of our souls to receive this holy sacrament constantly, as it is to the health of our bodies to eat constantly our common food.

"What I have said, is so different from what you will meet with in newspapers or common conversation, that you may, perhaps, think me a hypocrite, a methodist, or an enthusiast; but I solemnly declare I am not the first, for I firmly believe all I have written; and, as far as I know myself, I am neither of the latter. I was brought up a member of the Church of England, and was instructed in its doctrines and practice, by such parents as few can boast; and being always of a serious turn, I have read and thought more on such subjects, than most of my brother-lawyers; and, after all, I am firmly persuaded, that the doctrines of the Church of England are the doctrines of the Gospel. In that church, therefore, I hope you will continue, and hold fast its doctrines, at least till you have fairly and fully considered them and their proofs, as well as the objections which you may hear urged against them, by proud or profligate people. But as faith without works is dead, I trust you will practise as well as profess. profess. Christianity requires nothing which reason and good sense do not also require. These, if you consult them, (and if you do not, it is your own fault, for you are blessed with a considerable share of them,) these, I say, will tell you, that drinking, gaming, loose company, and all the vices to which young men are too often given, can only end in the ruin of your health, your fortune, and your fame.

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Many would avoid these were it not for that false modesty which makes young men ashamed not to do as others do. Let me beg you to avoid this; you are already more manly than most of your years; be more so still; re

solve to think and judge for yourself, and to do nothing which your reason and conscience do not approve. Attend as much as you please to the sayings and the conduct of men of sense and virtue, but even from them take nothing upon trust; prove all things; hold fast that which is good. And as to the foolish and the dissolute, shun their company and despise their counsel. It is high time to conclude, but, before I do, let me beg you to reflect, that I can have no motive for what I have said, but the desire of fulfilling my duty, and doing you service. I beg you, therefore, to acept this letter and the few books I have sent you, as what I thought the most useful present I could make you. And if I have written any thing which you think worthy your attention, keep it by you, and read it sometimes. And may God Almighty bless you, and make you the comfort of your parents in their old age, an ornament to your profession, an honour to your country, and his faithful servant to your life's end. Such are the wishes and the prayers of your godfather, and

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This may be a proper opportunity to introduce a letter addressed to a young lady for whom he had a great regard, a short time before her marriage. It was afterwards sent with some alterations to other female friends on a similar occasion. here given in its original form.

"My dear Miss S.

It is

"I have been intimately connected with four generations of your family. I often lament the not having noted down more of the wise maxims of your great-grandmother. Your father's father and mother were some of my kindest friends;

and your own parents I have known and loved longer than you have. But besides all this, your character is so interesting, that no one who knows it can feel indifferent about you, and as you are shortly to take the most important step of life, I would fain present you with something that may tend to promote your welfare.

"Silver and gold I have none to spare; and if I had, what can they avail? It is from your own conduct that your comfort must be derived. Will you then permit an old friend to offer you a few cautions, the result of long experience, and some of them, such as seldom occur to young women?

"You have had the inestimable advantage of a Christian education, and I have great satisfaction in hoping that your intended husband is also a real Christian. If so, he will admit the propriety of my first maxim, which shall be this:

1. "Let God have no rival in your heart. -The moment you permit the love of man, of pleasure, of money, or any other worldly object, to rival your heavenly Father, you are guilty of sin, and are laying up misery in store. Consider God's excellence, and your infinite obligations to him for your creation, redemption, preservation, for all you are, and all you have, and you must see the propriety of suffering nothing to interfere with your duty to Him. In particular, let neither business nor pleasure induce you to violate his holy day, or to absent yourself from his public worship. If possible, prevail on your husband to accompany you, and enforce this duty on your family. But while I urge you to constant piety, I with equal earnestness entreat you to guard against enthusiasm, which is only less dangerous than lukewarmness. - Having drawn a strong line (which must never be obliterated) between the love of God, and the love of man, I add,

2. "Let your husband have no human rival in your affection or confidence, none; no, not even your father, your mother, favourite friend. You must leave or your favourite friend. father and your mother and cleave to your husband, and he must be your favourite friend. I mean not that you are to desert or neglect your other friends, by no means: but while you continue to cherish them with kindness and affection, let them clearly perceive that another now possesses the first place in your heart, and that any attempt to rival him, or criticise his conduct, will lower them in your esteem, and if persisted in, put an end to all connection between you and them. Love, and love only, is the loan for love.' If, therefore, you desire to enjoy your husband's affection and confidence, give him your's, and convince him that he possesses them fully and completely, by concealing nothing from him.

"To win a man when all your arts succeed,

The way to keep him, is the way indeed.'

This must now be one main business of your life, and yet a single rule heartily adopted and steadily adhered to, will generally ensure success.

3. "Make, then, your husband's happiness your own: study his disposition, his temper, his inclinations, his amusements; and let it be your constant endeavour to conform yourself to them. Accustom yourself to be pleased with what pleases him, and to find your happiness in promoting his.

4. "Do not raise your expectations too high. This life was intended to be a state of trial, not of unalloyed enjoyment. However passion or affection may now present him, time will show you your intended partner such as he is, a fallen creature, like yourself, full of frailties, errors, and imperfections. To bear with them is no less your interest than your duty.

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