forgiven but also washed and cleansed in the blood of Christ; that I may have assurance of my reconciliation to God, and of his manifestations to my soul, in and through the Beloved. O Lord, strengthen my faith, and help me to believe that I have an interest in thy salvation, though I am a vile, sinful creature. Blessed be thy name for what thou hast done for me, and for what of thy presence I enjoy at this time. Of myself I can do nothing; but I can do all things through Christ strengthening me. Blessed be thy name, that while I am yet speaking, thou answerest; and while I am musing, the fire burneth. This is not of myself, O Lord; it is thy gift. Astonishing are thy grace and condescension,Lord,that thou shouldest hearken to a worm of the dust, a vile sinner; that thou shouldest speak peace to my soul. O, let me not return again to folly.

"March 14. I have been under much distress and difficulty by reason of outward trouble, (except at intervals,) for above this week; but have been this day much helped against it. God has been pleased this day to comfort me with his presence, blessed be his name.

"21. I have been in a disconsolate frame this week, though I have several times been relieved and composed, and especially this morning, in reading Mr. Samuel Mather's Gospel of the Incense, and the Golden Altar in the Holy of Holies; in treating whereof it was laid down, that whatever troubles we meet with from the world, Christ speaks well of us to the Father. It was further asserted, that we may

know that Christ prays for us by two things: first, if we have a heart to pray for ourselves; and secondly, if we prize the intercession of Christ. This yielded ed me much consolation and strength of faith with respect to my prayers. I hoped they were incense offered upon the golden altar, which would be accepted. I felt assured, that I should have divine direction and influence.

"28. This evening I have been assisted in secret prayer, and enabled to look to the Captain of our salvation to fight my battles for me against my great adversary, who is much molesting me with dark and melancho❤ ly representations.

"Ap. 10. I am weak in prayer, and brought more to prize Christ as my Advocate. Though I am weak, He is strong, and as a Prince prevaileth with God. I hope I have left my petition with Him, and hope in the free goodness of God, that He will undertake for me.

"12. I was comforted by reading Dr. Goodwin's Child of Light walking in Darkness; especially that part of it, entitled the return of prayers.

"22. I have opened my case this day to my father, and have been much refreshed by what he thereupon said to me. Soon after, observing a black cloud arise in the heavens, it put me in mind of the day of judgment. Those words came to me: Behold he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him: Upon which I found an inward joy; and my heart was ready to leap, at the thought of Christ's coming to judgment, and my ascending to meet the Lord in the air.

"May 23. Upon reading Mr.

Morgan's book upon these words, We went, when we remembered Zion; I was earnest with God in prayer for his church and people; and I was especially enlarged for those in a distant part of the country, whose sorrowful state had been laid before me in that book. I was filled with desires to help them.

"31. I was enlarged in prayer for the whole assembly of God's worshippers, (it being the Sabbath,) that he would grant them his presence and the communication of his grace, that their fellowship might be with the Father and his son Jesus Christ; but especially that he would pour down his Spirit upon his ministers, that he would take them up into the mount, and speak to them that they might speak to the people.

"June 3. Much profited by reading the Epistles of St. John. "July 11. Was much refreshed by reading Dr. Manton on Psalm cxix, 114; Thou art my hiding place and my shield; I hope in thy word.

"30. I was this morning assisted in secret prayer. God drew near to me. I was loath to leave the duty, insomuch that I could freely have continued all day in it.

"Aug. 1. I have had yesterday and to-day a great sense of the worth of God's favor and earnest desires after it.

er expect to have been so happy in this world. I thought I was willing to die, and could rejoice in my departure; but felt desirous to live, if I might glorify God, and live a holy life. I sat under Christ's shadow with great delight. My soul began to live, when she saw her Beloved; and, when she got near Him, I dissolved into tears too many to be concealed. The meditation of his excellency, as I came home, was precious to me; and so was secret prayer afterwards, though not in so high a degree.

"6. God has been present with me ever since the Sabbath, in such a manner as to make the duties of religion pleasant to me, though not in such a degree as I could desire. I am now entered upon another year, (it being my birth day;) may I begin it with God, and live more to his glory and have more communion with Him, than ever heretofore. Many have been the mercies, and much the perplexity of the year past. I have had more affliction, and more communion with God, than for a great while before. I would be encouraged thereby to devote myself to his fear continually, and especially for the year ensuing. May I bring forth much fruit unto God and do much service for my generation, and be made comely through his excellency which he shall put upon me; earnestly desiring that he would mortify all sin in me, and help me to live according to his commandment which is exceeding broad.

person is, with whom I converse. It made me very happy while the season lasted. I find there is true and solid happiness in drawing near to God. They, who have his presence, want no good thing. How happy a time is it with me! I see something of God wherever I turn my eye. "10. This morning in secret prayer I had a comfortable apprehension, that God was my Father, and of the great blessedness of being his child.

Also

considerable hopes concerning the answer of my prayers.

"20. I have had God's presence with me this morning in secret duties of his worship, and considerable enlargement in prayer; especially when I came to speak of God's goodness and bounty, and the titles whereby he was pleased to exhibit himself to his people, as God, King, Father, Friend, Husband, and Brother."

(To be continued.)

ADVICE TO PARENTS.

THE following reflections were occasioned by the unexpected death of a daughter aged 13, whose parents had not taught her the things of religion, and whose mother was, on that account, greatly distressed.

Parents, you have a sacred trust committed to you; a trust of infinite moment. You are the guardians of more souls than one. The children, which God hath given you, He hath put under your care, and you are to devote them to him-to train them up in the way in which they should go. Spare no pains, and neglect no opportunities, to teach them what they must know of God and the way of sale vation.

*

At present you are busy, no doubt, in providing for their temporal wants,seldom thinking, perhaps, that they may be taken sick and die. The necessity of religion you do not deny; but worldly cares engross your attention, so that you do not cate

chise and instruct your children in religion, nor pray with them. But you have some hope that it will not always be so. Wher this thing is done, and that plan completed, you intend to be more diligent in affairs of higher consequence.

But suppose death should step in between you and your good intentions! How then are your most important duties to be performed? and what then is to become of the precious souls of your offspring? It is your duty to provide moderately for their temporal subsistence, but if you do no more than this, you do no more than is done by the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the air: for they provide food for their young.

Suppose you should provide largely for your children; suppose you should leave them. wealthy; yet, if you leave them not the blessing of God, what will wealth avail them? What if they are clothed in purple and fine linen, and fare sumptuously every day, if they have all their

good things in this world, and are to be tormented hereafter, for ever and ever? Miserable riches, alas! which may ruin their souls, and increase your own condemnation!

I beseech you, therefore, fathers and mothers, to think seriously on these things. How soon God will call you and your children into eternity, you know not. At the funerals of their children, I have known parents in deep distress and agitation of mind, because they had not taught them the things of religion. "O," said the mother alluded to, "O, that I had taught my daughter the being of a God! O, that I had not put off, and put off, teaching her to be religious! I am to blame; my conscience condemns me! O,I have neglected her soul for her body! How unfaithful a parent I have been to her soul!"

Let parents, from these reflections, take advice. Lose not the present time to bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Acquaint them with the Bible. Pray with them in your families, and for them in your closets. Neither speak, nor do, any thing unbecoming the character of Christians indeed. Let them see that you love the Savior-delight in religion-fear to offend God and draw your sweetest consolations from his word. Show them, that your great concern is, to have them become pious, and fit to die, whenever death shall call them hence. So teach them daily, and so walk before them, that if they should die young, you may have no cause to lament, and condemn yourselves, after they are dead and gone, because

you put off teaching them the things of eternity, till it was too late. Be holy yourselves; and be faithful to their souls. E. S.

For the Panoplist.

THOUGHTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF A LIBERAL EDUCATION TO A MINISTER.

In my remarks upon this subject, I do not intend to disparage, in the least, the worth of those men, who have raised themselves to eminence and usefulness without the advantages of a public education. I am well aware, that genius, diligence, and ardent piety, have often brought men forward from obscurity, and made them extensive blessings to the Church. The excellent John Newton is a distinguished example of this kind. That such persons might have been more useful, if they had been blessed with an early and liberal education, will hardly admit of a rational doubt. They furnish no solid objection, therefore, to the general utility of such an education.

I shall not stop to descant upon the general respectability and influence of character, which necessarily attach themselves to a liberal education; nor shall I dwell upon the impor tance of this respectability and influence to a minister. These topics were handled by one of your correspondents in a late number.

It is obvious to a man who has been favored with a liberal education, that it possesses many advantages which are felt and

experienced in active life, but which can hardly be set forth, in their true colors and full importance, upon paper. They must be seen and felt, in order to be known. I shall content myself with mentioning only three of a more obvious nature.

1. A liberal education introduces one to an acquaintance with literary characters and lit erary pursuits. The connexion, which each student at a public seminary forms with other students, with whom it may be his lot to co-operate in future life, must be of lasting benefit. It affords him an opportunity of learning their talents, their acquirements, and their disposi tions; and to commence and cement a durable friendship with such as he may deem worthy of his confidence. It also affords him an opportunity of determining his own powers and acquisitions, and the rank which he is capable of holding. If he is modest and retiring, and prone to undervalue his own abilities, it will give him courage and confidence in himself, and create a decision of character, which he could not attain in private. If, on the other hand, he is bold and assuming, and apt to overrate his relative importance, the frequent disappointments and mortifications that he will meet with, by seeing others, of far less pretensions than himself, outstrip him in his studies, and his studies, and leave him in the back ground, will have a salutary influence on his character, in lessening his vanity and self-conceit, checking his forwardness, and prompting him to more vigorous efforts in the pursuit of sound learning. He will also become acquainted

with the best writers both in our own, and in the learned languages. Such an acquaintance, while it polishes his style, refines his taste, and increases his stock of knowledge, will teach him a lesson of modesty and diligence, which he will not soon forget. It will pretty effectually cure him of those pedantie hab its and feelings, which we often see so disgustingly displayed, by professional men of private education, and slender acquire

ments.

2. Scientific pursuits expand and discipline the mind. They train it to sober thought and patient investigation; sharpen and invigorate the discernment; and impart, at the same time, a stronger love of truth and a greater power of discovering it.

The science of mathematics is rather dry and laborious, and will be pursued, by most minds, to but a very small extent, except as a classical exercise. But its salutary effects are great and permanent. It induces a habit of fixing the undivided attention upon a subject, and pursuing it, with patience and assiduity, till the truth is elicited.

It gives a strong and masculine tone to the intellect; and a clearness, precision, and force to the expression, which would not otherwise be attained. It prepares the mind for a more ready and accurate discrimination between sophistry and sound reasoning, and doubly repays the labor of a few months by the rich harvest of truth which it eventually yields.

The other sciences, usually taught at our colleges, are more inviting, as they are less laborious and productive of more