ought to ask ourselves, in our seasons of meditation and self-examination; and demand a deliberate answer from our consciences, having them properly informed from the word of God.

Many persons are wont to excuse themselves from spending time to read the Scriptures, to converse and meditate on the things of religion, on account of their cares and worldly business. What is this but frankly acknowledging, that they are not so much interested with the things of the kingdom of God, as with those of time and sense? For how few are there of those who make this complaint, that could not relinquish some of their concerns; and thus, by lessening their cares, be able to redeem some time to devote to their precious souls? Mankind in general find little difficulty in making sacrifices of worldly interest for worldly pleasure; when, if the object had been a religious one, mountains of difficulties would have appeared in the way. Alas, alas! how grovelling is our nature! What is the life of the body, when compared with the life of the soul? Merely "a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.' But when attempting to describe the worth of the soul, (or the worth of time, as it is a state of probation for endless happiness or misery,) all language fails, and we are obliged to resort to the musings of expressive silence.

I am by no means insensible of the multiplicity of avocations, that crowd upon all heads

of families, who are surrounded with an increasing progeny. And it is our indispensable duty to attend to our worldly concerns; but our attention must be in subordination to "the one thing needful." I believe it to be one of the most difficult duties that is required of the Christian in the present life, to have so much to do with the world as duty requires, and not to be entangled and captivated with it, to the neglect of spiritual duties. When the Pharisees made their boast of paying tithes of mint, and rue, and other herbs, Christ tells them, "These things ye ought to have done, and not to have left the others undone;" (meaning, the weightier matters of the law.) Christ has told us, that our heavenly Father knoweth that we stand in need of these world. ly comforts: but his direction is, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and, adds the promise, "all these things shall be added unto you."--Not long since, I heard a young person say, he found that his worldly interest evidently prospered much better, since he paid attention to religion, than before.Paul saith to Timothy, "Bodily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.". When we

pursue our worldly business with a single eye to the glory of God, we may depend on his blessing to accompany our endeavours, as far as shall be most for his glory, and our best good. Multitudes experience much unneces

sary trouble, for the want of a confidential belief, that nothing, not even the most trifling circumstance, takes place, in the natural or moral-world, without the permission and overruling direction of Divine Providence, as much as in the drowning of the old world, or the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. With Divine Power, nothing is hard. It is as easy for God to create a world, as an insect; and to take cognizance of all the most minute circumstances, as those of magnitude.

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We should at all times maintain a lively sense of the omniscience of God; and of our absolute and universal accountability. This would prove an incentive to us to regulate our conduct by the rules of his word, and tend to preserve in our minds a reverential awe before him. All will endeavour to behave with decorum before the great ones of the earth; but how few have we reason to think, are awed, in any proper degree, before God! If they can secrete themselves from the eyes of their fellow-creatures, they vainly imagine that they are safe; forgetting that "the darkness and the light are both alike to Him with whom we have to do." They seem never to have reflected, that for every idle (not to say profane) word we speak, we must give an account in judgment! Oh that we could but live in constant reference to this solemn day! My dear child; these things can never lie with too much weight upon our minds: we

cannot have too lively a sense of their impor tance. It is a great thing to have a proper sense of them in short, it is a great thing to be a Christian. It is long since I thought I had some sense of the worth of an immortal soul, the blessing of the Gospel, the beauty of holiness, and the transcendant glories of the divine character: but my ideas on these allinteresting subjects have of late been so enlarged, that my former views appear to vanish like smoke.

When Christians reflect upon the distinguishing love of God, in selecting them from the common herd of lost sinners, (when those, as good by nature, and better by practice, are left,) what wonder and astonishment is excited in their minds! What lively gratitude and praise is enkindled in their hearts! No time is long enough for them to render ascriptions of praise to God and the Lamb. Eternity alone will be sufficient to sound the praises of redeeming love. That, doubtless, will be the happy employment of the saints in light for ever and ever. And that you and all my children, and children's children, may belong to that incomprehensibly happy number, is the daily prayer of

Your affectionate Father,

S. COLEMAN.

TO HIS DAUGHTER MRS, H

DEAR CHILD,

CANANDAIGUA.

Amherst, June 16, 1813.

YOUR letter has filled us with emotions not easily described. We had our anticipations of a very agreeable visit from you, wrought up to the highest pitch. But they are at once down. The question, relative to your visiting N. England, it seems is settled. And we are left too, in total suspense, as to any future. period upon which to fix our anticipations again. This disappointment is well calculated to teach us not to have raised expectations of earthly happiness, but to remember that nothing here is certain, save death. The more we are elated in the anticipation of enjoyment, the more we are chagrined when disappointed. It is characteristic of a puerile mind, to be depressed, or pertubated, with any worldly disappointment. It is wisdom to hold all our secular concerns, and earthly enjoyments, as in our hands, that we may readily lay them down when they are called for. By this means, unforeseen casualties and disappointments will sit comparatively light upon the mind. Oh! that our hearts may be weaned from the delusive charms of this ensnaring world, and that we may live above it, while we live in it.

I thank my dear child for her affectionate invitation to me to visit her. I have long had it in pleasing contemplation; but whether I