got the better of all our evil inclinations, and entirely overcome the old man with his deeds, still we should only have attained to the character first described, and have more cause for humility than exaltation.

13th, 7th Mo.-"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."* I do not know any thing that comes nearer to the feelings of affectionate parents, than the welfare and prosperity of their children. Even with regard to the things of this life, how many anxious wishes do we feel that their lot may be comfortable! Still more is our anxiety respecting their happiness in futurity. And when we estimate things according to their proper value, we shall feel a willingness to give up for them, as well as for ourselves, those temporal gratifications which would retard us in the progress of duty, or be any hinderance to us in our spiritual concerns. Often do we fear, and often do we rejoice, according to the reports we hear respecting our children, and as our own observations on their conduct lead us to form opinions concerning them. Sometimes fearing that they will be drawn by one little * John, i. 4.

deviation after another, from the path of safety and peace; at others gratified with hearing their commendation. If we can say we have no greater joy than to hear that our children walk in the truth, we shall endeavour whilst our lot is cast amongst them, to watch over them for good. Sometimes dropping a caution or a hint in season as opportunity may offer; and under the influence of that love, which can bear and forbear, not only endeavouring to persuade them to the practice of those things which are most excellent, but likewise putting up our prayers to the throne of Grace for their preservation. I believe few can know the anxiety of parents for their children, till they are in the same situation themselves. Then all the tender sensibilities are called forth and as they look forward with increasing solicitude, and sometimes cast a retrospective view on themselves, even those who have been attentive to their own parents will be apt to wish they had been still more so, and more disposed to consider their feelings; whilst those who have not acted properly by their parents, will feel an unavailing regret. And, alas! how often do we feel an unavailing regret for many of the past actions of our lives; unavailing at least, so far as respects the present life.

Often have I wished to impress upon young people the difficulty of setting wrong to rights, or retracing those steps which have led us into the wrong path. Though the first few steps may appear shallow, and even their termination doubtful, yet steeper ones will soon succeed, and we shall be almost imperceptibly pushed forward without seeing where we can make a stand. Hitherto shalt thou go, but no farther, can be only the language of Omnipotence; and though poor, frail man may sometimes adopt it in seasons of confidence, yet he may as often have to lament the frailty of his resolves.

One thing, and one action unexpectedly involves another, and if we once step aside from the line of propriety, we always find it very difficult to return, and frequently cannot remedy the evils arising from the deviation, in the future course of our lives. While we are thus humbled under a sense of the weakness of human nature, may we be induced fervently to pray to Him who has said, "My grace is sufficient for thee,' "* and leaving "those things that are behind," endeavour through His help to press forward toward the mark, that we may gain the prize.

* II Cor. xii. 9.

20th, 7th Mo.-Every degree of familiarity with vice has a tendency to blunt the moral feelings. Hence arise the various opinions of mankind respecting the turpitude of many of our actions. Those who have been brought up in an innocent line of life, and had any religious principles instilled into their minds, would feel shocked at many actions which pass with little censure in the fashionable world. But fashion cannot alter the genuine precepts of Christianity, neither can it make wrong right; and morals must be at a very low ebb indeed, when authors who pretend to write to reform mankind, treat lightly of = great vices, or think it proper to lower the standard of moral rectitude in compliance with fashion, instead of holding it up to view in its proper elevation.

21st. From the above considerations how necessary does it appear for youth to have a guarded education, that moral and religious principles may be firmly rooted in the mind, before they are called forth to much exertion. In the natural course of things many circumstances will occur that excite the evil propensities of our nature, without our putting them in the way of temptation with the injunction not to be tempted.

19th, 10th Mo.-I will humble myself before the Lord. I will abase myself before the most high God. When my transgressions are set in order before me, and I behold the handwriting that signs my condemnation, I will prostrate myself before the throne of Mercy, and plead guilty before God. Yet not without the consoling hope that my repentance will avail, and that through the mediation of a Saviour, my pardon will be pronounced. There are times when we feel all self-confidence laid in the dust: when we see that we have nothing of our own to depend upon, nothing to plead in our own be half, and that our only covering is confusion and shame; when we reflect how often we have sinned in thought, word and deed, and how far we are from having attained that purity which the Gospel requires, we are ready to cry out with the Apostle, "Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord."* Through the efficacy of his power operating on the mind, I trust the old corrupt nature will be more and more subdued, and that we shall not only hear the sentence pronounced, thy iniquities are pardoned and thy sins are blotted out; but as we patiently

* Rom. vii. 24, 25.