ciation in which she was engaged. Her answer was, "I believe she is sincere, and why should we deny her the opportunity of amendment. If she comes among us, we will pray for her, and endeavour to lead her aright; we ought not to refuse even the little that she can do, where so much is requisite to ensure success. Let us determine to bear with her; if we cannot teach her any good thing, she can teach us patience, which is a lovely christian grace." In fact, the lady in question was entirely reformed, and became a useful member of the association.

It is melancholy to reflect, that good works cannot be carried on in the social circle, without being impeded by the leaven of human corruption. How often do we see much energy wasted in fruitless efforts, because the spirit of discord prevails, either openly, or in secret. The superficial observer wonders that a blessing does not attend such active exertions; but the omniscient eye sees the impediment at the very core of those hearts, which seek in vain to cover up their carnal motives, instead of labouring to cast them out. God will not prosper endeavours that are polluted by emulation or envy. The true christian never thinks he can do enough in his Master's cause. His eye is always fixed on the aggregate sum of good works. If much has been done, he rejoices, even when he knows that but a trifling portion of the good was wrought by himself. It is enough for him, that the cause is prospering. His heart rejoices in the piety and zeal of others, and he is willing to follow at an humble distance, if his gifts are small, or his opportunities rare. But many persons undertake good works with another spirit. They long to make themselves conspicuous, and to have great praise for their good deeds. Verily, they have their reward in the breath of man's nostrils. They press forward, and gather fame as they go, disputevery step with their fellow labourers. If they

meet with any one whose attainments are undoubtedly superior to theirs, they shrink back, and will not unite with those who can eclipse them. This is done too, with an air of mock-humility, as if they really thought their own gifts contemptible. But the Lord knoweth their hearts. He reads inordinate self-estimation at the bottom of them, and turns away with disgust from their empty professions. Why did the man who had but one talent, refuse to put it to interest? undoubtedly because he envied him who had ten, and thought his own chance of profit too small to be regarded.

One would think, that even carnal wisdom would suggest to him who has but slender gifts, that his responsibility is less, and his chance of escaping envy and malice, greater, than if he was more conspicuously endowed. Those, whose high intellectual endowments force them into responsible stations, are fully sensible of the disadvantages accruing to them. They would willingly hide their heads from the storm that envy and malice raise with their tainted breath, against the highly gifted of all denominations. Notoriety has its accompanying evils, whatever the ambitious may think, when they, to attain it, press forward. God's people must endure this evil if called forth in his service before the public eye, but they certainly do not esteem it among their privileges. While the ambitious aspirant is aiming at notoriety, the humble christian "does good by stealth, and blushes to find it fame." I have known charitable associations so disturbed by a spirit of rivalry, as to be rendered almost nugatory. I trust, my dear girl, that you will never suffer carnal motives to mingle with your active exercises in the cause of religion. I once knew a flourishing Sabbath School nearly broken up, by the rivalry of its two heads; both were struggling for supremacy, and neither would yield an iota to the other, for the sake of the cause they pro

fessed to uphold. Another school was seriously injured by the jealousy of the female superintendent, who conceived that one of the teachers was more popular than herself, and never was at rest, until she succeeded in turning her out.

I could name other similar cases, but these few will suffice for warnings, and the subject is too painful to dwell upon. Those who have the glory of God at heart, will bear and forbear for his sake; knowing that he appreciates the inward motives of the heart, and not the outward seeming of such as call themselves by his name. Many of our keenest trials, arise from the conflicting tastes and inclinations of our associates. Were it not for these lessons, we should have no opportunity of acquiring the precious virtues and graces, and patience and forbearance. If you have only to yield to those, who in their turn yield to you, your task is easy; but if, when you have practised self denial to the utmost length of your patience, you still find yourself pressed upon, there is real merit in forbearing. All our virtues are strengthened by exercise, and we are so little practised in self-imposed restraints, that it is well for us when our Heavenly Father sends occasions of discipline to us. We are always children in his sight, and require the same restrictions that we are wont to impose upon our own offspring. We are apt to have by nature, an overweening sense of our own importance, which is too often strengthened and magnified by the conversation we hear in the social circle, from the earliest period of childhood. There is generally some little bickering among our connexions-some small occasion of heart burning, —which we hear discussed at large, with animadversions on the conduct of others, pretty highly seasoned with inflammable ingredients. From these occurrences we learn a good deal of the dignity of human nature, and

the requisite degree of retaliation admissible in civil society. Pride is thus insensibly nurtured in the young heart, to a degree that afterwards proves troublesome. We retain a confused notion, that resistance to aggression is allowable, if not praise worthy.-"Nobody ought to bear so much-I declare, it is mean spirited-it is cowardly; every one ought to cultivate proper pride.” This jargon confounds the minds of children, and they grow up with undefined ideas, that pride is sometimes proper. Not being furnished with an exact estimate of the legitimate quantity, necessary to maintain the dignity of one's character, of course, this allotment is left to the individual, who measures the degree of proper pride by his own ideas of propriety: just as much as he feels inclined to indulge, is, in his opinion, the proper quantity.

But I might pursue this subject until I wearied you, dear Mary, and I only wish to put you on your guard against the too common mistakes of the age in which you live. There can be no proper standard for Christian virtue, but the Bible; and just so much pride as that directs you to assume, in your intercourse with your fellow creatures, I will allow you to practice. Self love abounds in subterfuges. Wounded pride generally passes for sensibility. But how strangely is this term. perverted! Look at that frowning brow; mark those swollen features; what is the source of those gushing tears? Oh, my sensibility has been deeply woundedmy delicacy is violated—I have been insulted,-strange charges are brought against me, and faults laid at my door that I never heard of before;-but I will resent it. Human nature can bear no more; my dignity requires that I should resist such oppression, &c.-Is this sensibility?-that feeling which melts at the sorrows of others? Alas, no! it is a vile impostor. It is alive only to self. A touch wounds its sickly sensitiveness. It is

prompt to inflict pain, but shrinks from enduring it. It defends itself before it is attacked, and resents insults before they have been offered. To suspect it of imperfection, is to awaken its violence.-How different from the benign grace it would pass for! that gentleness of feeling which emanates from the divine principle of love!

May you, my dear girl, have the true Christian virtue. implanted in your renewed heart.

I am ever yours.

LETTER V.

MY DEAR MAry,

It has been said by writers who pretended to comprehend the female heart, that woman is as unstable as water, and therefore cannot excel! It is true, that caprice is one of the many foibles of all weak people, whatever may be their age or sex; but the fair, impartial page of history, furnishes examples of high fortitude and persevering constancy in strong minded women. When the motive is adequate to excite and maintain firmness, women may shame the stronger sex, by their stern perseverance in the path of duty.

Custom and prejudice have affixed to them the stigma of being deficient in moral courage; yet have they been roused to masculine exertion, by circumstances propitious to the development of their powers. The system of female education generally pursued, is eminently calculated to slacken the intellectual nerve, and paralyze the mental powers of that portion of the majestic