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-1 I ⠀⠀ TO HER SON, AT ANDOVER. 2012, 154

My anxieties about you, my dear J, are very great. I wish to have you in earnest in the pursuit of human science; but I am, above all, solicitous to have you in earnest in the pursuit of holiness, without which human science will soon be found to be as a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. Let it be your first, your great concern, to be a Christian. Is hope you will choose those boys for your associates who are most serious. I wish you regularly and punctually to attend the Bible class, and to be careful to be always well prepared for the exercise, and to remember the instructions you there receive. Daily read your Bible in your retirement, with seriousness and attention, to see what God says to you; and pray for his grace to help you to understand and feel its precious truths. Never neglect secret prayer. You cannot expect to be kept from sin and temptation without the help of God. You are weak and depraved, and in a world of temptation and danger. Your only hope is in His arm who is able to save you even to the uttermost. Be not slothful in business, but diligent in duty; for you are soon to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and give an account for your talents, your time, your opportunities for improvement, all your conduct, words, and thoughts. Oh, remember this, and live so that you may hope to hear the Judge say to you, "Come thon blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for thee, from the foundation of the world

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Prod ludBoston, June 11, 1823. I AM Sorry, my dear sister, to hear that you are not well. My own health has been rather more feeble

than usual this spring. A troublesome cough has been my companion longer than I like. We dwell in houses of clay; and the earthly house of our tabernacle is dissolving. We have admonitions in every form, to be doing with our might the work assigned us; and it is a great work, to prepare ourselves, and do what we can to prepare others, for eternity; the opportunity of exerting a salutary influence on those about us will soon be over. Soon, very soon, it will be too late to labour and pray. The Lord help us to be faithful, as those who are speedily to give account.

J

Give my love to our dear mother. Tell her, I hope she has found shelter in His bosom who is a very present help in every time of trouble; that she is enabled to roll over her burdens on His arm, who chasteneth whom he lovethy and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth; that she has found, by experience, that the name of the Lord is a strong tower, into which she can run, and be safe. I do hope, my dear sister, that the Lord Jesus has prepared places for us in a better world than this; and that when he cometh, he will receive us to himself, according to his own word, "Father, I will that those whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory."Let us comfort one another with these words. tob ni ms; thb h 5 II 2 band 1.

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159- in gebr

TO HER SON AT ANDOVERJor etiolot ma ignot wit

Boston, June 22, 1823. I HAVE thought a great deal of you, my dear J., since you left us at the commencement of the present term. You are removed from my immediate care,› and your actions cannot now pass under my observation with the same minuteness which they used to do. I may, indeed, learn, in general, from others, what shape your character is taking; but all those various details of action-small, but unceasingly exhibited which I used to watch so closely, can no longer be inspected by

your mother. You now, much more than formerly, must act for yourself. Sometimes the thought that it is so, is extremely painful to me. But then I reflect, that the only bulwark against temptation is the correctness and strength of your own principles; and I feel that I must pray for you, and leave you with God. The boy whose evil propensities are only held in by the reins of parental vigilance, will easily fall a prey to the snares of a treacherous world and a sagacious enemy, as soon as these salutary restraints are removed. You must be able yourself, my son, to discern the dif ference between the right and the wrong; and you must have a heart to choose the former and refuse the latter, or your mother's prayers and instructions will

never save you.

While I wish you, as I have often intimated, to be careful in forming friendships, becoming intimate with none but boys of unexceptionable character, I am equally desirous that you should avoid feeling that are very good yourself. "To this man will I look," saith God, "even to him who is of an humble and contrite heart." God" resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.". And I wish you not to speak of the faults of other boys unnecessarily. This is very. wrong. If they are not good, you need not be intimate with them; you ought not to be, because God commands you "not to go in the way of sinners." But this does not imply that you should talk about their failings. You should strive not to make enemies. If there is any temper which I love to see above all others, it is the humble, lamb-like spirit which Jesus Christ possessed in perfection, and which his Gospel requires of all who would be his disciples. Take your place. at his feet, my J., and learn of him as Mary did.

# Jeds idegol] TO A FRIEND AT ASZIVOV 10Ì 18 jaum 1 120 100 s of lutning yomonizo en 06,2 -100 mit I neiusiqani tenis Boston, June 24, 1823.L

WRITE just to inform you that I think of going to Connecticut. I have had a bad cough, at intervals, all the spring/inoIt is troublesome and obstinate,od Dr. of 45 says I must change the air. He recommends going into the interior, but thinks a visit to News Haven, or New-London, would answer the purpose." When I shall set out, I am not able, at present, to inform you. I will write you more definitely soon.91st

3 x bas 19mot od zoods of 18od & eved Janm [W PRODUTO MRS. S. AT NEW-LONDON,100 1019si DY 782 19V90 ad of boiscutar adio ovd Boston, June 29, 1825. I WISH I could look in upon you and your little charge this evening should then know better than I now do how to address you. "I will, however, take it for granted that you are well, that the children are 4 well, that your journey has been comfortable, and that you are comparatively happy.es" bu

You and I, my dear madam, have seen many changes,we have met with many vicissitudes, every oneofo which the Lord chose out for us, in infinite wisdom and mercy, before the world was. And has he not helped w us hitherto ? Has he not always delivered us from evil, or enabled us to bear it? And is not his grace ins times past a pledge of future mercy puode noY egailist Upon the whole, my dear Mrs. S., I believe all that we want is more grace, a heart to rest in God; a heart to love his character to love his will, to love his gooq vernment!This would setballdrightbluAll that welc have is his, our own bodies and souls, our children,1» our possessions, our acquirements. Is it not so? Are we Christians? And are we grasping any darling object, and saying, "All the rest, Lord, but not this; this I cannot part with?" Oh, are we Christians;

and shall we do this? No, no.

Let it be our glory,

let it be our happiness, to GIVE UP ALE TO GOD, and we shall be repaid a thousand fold.

The letter just read, was the last written by this excellent woman, previously to her being seized with the malady which terminated in her death. The cough, spoken of more than once in the preceding extracts, had continued without abatement. On Saturday, July 5th, she took an additional cold. In the evening of the succeeding Sabbath, her indisposition assumed a more painful and alarming character. The change, and her feelings in relation to it, are thus described by herself in a postscript to the letter commenced June 29th. "Since I wrote the above, my dear Mrs. S., my health has changed a good deal. You recollect my troublesome cough. Day before yesterday, I spit a little blood; and every day since, I have raised a little. A blister and a slight fever have reduced my strength; so that I feel that I am a frail, dying creature.

But,

Dr. is very anxious to get me from Boston. He hopes a change of air will benefit me.. I hope so too, and think of Connecticut, if I can get there. oh, how lonely I feel! Whom shall I look to. But hush every word that looks like complaining. The Lord has written me, widow, and desolate; and he has done well. Oh, for a heart to bless him now, to bless him for ever! I need strong faith. I cannot write much. You must all love and pray for me. But we all want love to, and confidence in the blessed God, a thousand times more than any thing else."

H

A second postscript to the same letter, written by another hand, and dated "Wednesday evening, July 9th," is as follows: "Dear Madam, thus far our beloved friend had written to you. She is now unable to finish; and has requested me to do it, and to inform

you