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all his disciples to follow his example, assuring them at the same time, that they shall have to endure the same mode of treatment. But if you conform to customs which he avoided, and thus escape the odium which he had to endure, what evidence do you supply in favour of your imitation of his example? He has invited. you, as weary and heavy laden, to come unto him, and has promised to give you rest; but the fact of your having come unto him is to be attested, not so much by an ecstasy of feeling, or refinement of taste; not so much by the splendour of your profession, or elevation of your hope, as the entire submission of your mind to his will-which is expressed in language too simple to be misunderstood. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. “ I am, Madam,

"SIR,

"Your humble Servant,
"THE AUTHOR."

"I very sincerely thank you for your very excellent papers, which I read every Saturday morning, as soon as I can procure them from the publisher's. They have both instructed and amused' me. I think your reasonings conclusive, your animadversions just, your censures well-timed, and the advice you offer good. Indeed, Sir, I do not know any one to whom I could submit my case with more confidence than to you, because you speak out your opinions without fear; and though I do not suppose you are infallible, yet I believe you possess the spirit of wisdom and understanding.

"I read your papers on the Unhappy Marriage with great interest, because I am anticipating a change; but my heart misgave me when I read your observations on the propriety of consulting our parents, even before the addresses of a gentleman are actually accepted. But, Sir, my case is rather singular; and this must be my apology if I have done wrong. I am the only one, in our family, who makes any profession of

religion; and you will not be surprised, when I inform you, that I have passed through a severe ordeal of per

secution. My papa is a kind man, but a great enemy

to vital godliness; my mama is rather severe, and equally hostile to religion, and so are my brothers and sisters. I can enjoy no happiness at home, which forces me out amongst my friends, in whose society and conversation I get relieved from the burden of sorrow which often presses down my spirit. I have long made up my mind to leave my father's house as soon as Providence opens a way, which I think he has done very unexpectedly. A gentleman of my own age, my equal in society, intelligent, amiable, and decidedly pious, has made me an offer of marriage, which I have accepted, and preparations are making to consummate the union; but I have not said any thing to my parents on the subject, because I know they will object. They cannot object to his person or to his connections, but they will to his religion. Now, Sir, will you favour me with a reply to my question? Ought I to consult them, when I know they will not give their consent, or may I conceal my intention till I have executed it, when objections will be useless? I wish to act right; and if possible to avoid taking any step that shall involve my own happiness or the honour of the Christian character.

Your's,

"MADAM,

HENRIETTA.

"As you are the first in your family that has made a decided profession of religion, I am not surprised that you have been called to pass through a severe ordeal of persecution; because it is the usual fate of the pioneer to meet with obstructions and encounter difficulties, which they who follow find removed out of the path-way of their march. But are you not aware, that the honour of victory is in proportion to the difficulty of the conquest; and that if God is pleased to call you to extraordinary trials, he will give you an adequate portion of strength and consolation? Your case is not singular; for all who will live godly in Christ, shall suffer persecution. It is true you may be surprised at the conduct of your friends, but are they not

equally surprised at yours? If they knew that your religion is the religion of principle-in-wrought in your heart by the immediate influence of a supernatural power, they would forbear all opposition; as the Jews would have shrunk back with horror from the result of their conspiracy, if they had known that they were crucifying the Lord of Life and Glory; but they have no conception that it is so, and hence regard you as partially deranged-contemning your decision as sullen obstinacy-your perseverance as wayward folly-your tenderness of conscience as mental imbecility; and imagine that, like other maladies to which the human mind is liable, it can be removed by some regular process of practical counteraction.

I regret that you should have taken such an important step as that which your communication announces, without first consulting them. Their unkind treatment does not exonerate you from your obligations of filial respect; and though you may suppose that they would have withheld their sanction, yet you ought to have solicited it. If you continue to let the veil of concealment hang over your intention till you have carried it into effect, they will feel not only offended, but disgusted by such a species of duplicity, and may very likely abandon you for ever. And will not the

gentleman, with whom you expect to pass the future days of your life, be involved in the heaviest charges of guilt? For what is it less than the crime of sacrilege, committed against the sanctity of domestic comfort, for any person to bear off a daughter from her father's house, without asking permission? Such a conduct may be adopted by the unprincipled libertines of the day; but for a religious man to do it would be almost an unpardonable sin! It would be an act that would fix an indelible mark of disgrace on his reputation; and preclude him from the remotest chance of ever gaining the esteem or confidence of any branch of your family. And what a deep wound would it inflict on the honour of religion! for if we, who condemn the tolerated vices of the world, are guilty of actions which they justly hold in abhorrence, do we not substantiate the charge of hypocrisy which they bring against us, and leave ourselves without any means of vindication? And can you suppose, that your

you

pious friends would give you the sanction of their approbation? Would they rally round with their congratulations? No: impossible! They would feel that you had brought a slur of disgrace on the whole body, which nothing could remove but a public expression of their abhorrence. And what effect would this have on your respectability and on your social happiness? Would it not diminish, if it did not destroy it?

"You have, by neglecting your duty in the first stages of a very delicate and important affair, brought yourself to the edge of a very dangerous precipice; and though you may find some difficulty in retracing your steps with safety, yet you ought to make the attempt; for if you advance, I can see nothing but inevitable ruin before you. Break the vow of secresy, throw off the disguise, resume the integrity of your Christian character, and as you think the eligibility of the proposed union will bear the closest investigation, disclose your wishes to your parents, and then leave the issue with Him, who has said, Acknowledge me in all thy ways, and I will direct thy paths. And when you make the communication, do it frankly, and without reserve, and lose no time, lest the intelligence should reach them from some unexpected quarter, which would probably irritate their passions to a high degree of resentment and hostility. If they should give their sanction, which is possible, your happiness is secured, and the honour of religion is preserved unsullied; and if it should be withheld, you will have this reflection as a safeguard to your integrity, that you were not remiss in your filial duty. Hoping, that in an affair on which so much personal and relative happiness depends, that you will be guided by the wisdom that cometh from above; and entreating you not to suffer any arguments or motives of persuasion to urge you forward to the consummation of the union, till you have acted on the advice I have now given you,

"I remain, Madam,

"Your humble Servant,
"THE AUTHOR."

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"Well may the right honourable Secretary be charged with having done nothing, or worse than nothing; with being satisfied at most, to see his pledge in favour of a whole archipelago, reduced to a single island; while a law is still to prevail in every island in the West Indies, except Trinidad, which authorises a female negro to be stripped in the presence of her father, husband, or son, and flogged with a cart whip!!" Page 10.

London:

PRINTED FOR FRANCIS WESTLEY, 10, STATIONERS' COURT, AND AVE-MARIA LANE.

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