Christian, his heart influenced by religion how lovely are the tears of pity which roll down his manly cheeks-how godlike the hands stretched out to succour human wants: - How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them that hasten to publish the Gospel of peace, to proclaim good tidings of good.' If any thing is wanting to show the value of religion, we have only to examine its benevolent effects in domestic life. It finds its home and resting place in the family bosom. It exalts the female character, it opens all the springs of human sympathy, it engages the female world in active exertions for God, their country, and their neighbours. Yes," said he, "and they exert themselves in such a manner as to throw all the men into the back ground. No wonder," he added, "for there is such a sympathy in woman for human wants, that to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, instruct the ignorant, cure distemper, comfort sorrow, and cheer despondence, woman, when a path is open for her career, outstrips our loftier and more sluggish sex." "How shameful and disgraceful to Christians," said Charles, " to suffer so large a portion of the world to remain so long in the regions of darkness and the depths of heathenish cruelties, for want of a little contribution out of their superfluities towards sending missionaries to evangelize them!” “Ah!” said Mr. Kindly, "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, are sturdy beggars; their claims have so many advocates in our own bosoms; our own passions and our own wishes plead for them so strongly : but we ought to say to all these impertinent customers, 'Call again to-morrow.' We are not debtors to the flesh to live after the flesh. The Son of God met with no sympathy from them, and we owe them none. When our neighbour's house is on fire, shall we suffer him to sleep on? No, but step forward to his help immediately. I am getting grey with age, and I am looking to another state, 'to be with Christ which is far better;' but I hope yet to live awhile that I may be of use to such plans of benevolence, and that I may witness the dawn of the glorious day predicted, when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.' These are objects which make existence desirable." In such conversations as these the friendly circle closed a profitable and social evening, and retired, filled with pious thoughts and christian affection, to their rest. THE next morning Charles was roused from his slumbers by his friend John, soon after sunrise, who thus addressed him : "Let us look forth from our chambers cheerful as the morning! I think you discover a cordial taste for the beauties of nature; let me take you a walk, where you will have an opportunity of viewing some charming prospects." They proceeded up the green lane, and as they rose upon the hill every object seemed adorned with the smile of peace, while the air resounded with the voice of joy, and the fields teemed with the fruits of plenty. Below them ran a translucent stream, fed by springs from the hills, beyond which stretched an expanse of green velvet meadows lately mown, but the labourers were not yet arrived to shake the dew from the hay. This was edged with another meandering stream, whose silvery twinklings skirted the public road, where coaches and carriages threw up obscuring clouds of dust. Beyond it rose a lofty hill, in gentle undulating sweeps, which stood thick with corn, the grain already appearing to be ripening for the harvest. Green hedges intersected the yellow corn-fields, while groves of beech crowned the tops of the hills, which extended in an undulating line from right to left, now retiring in bosoms and dells, now projecting into promontories, to which the hills on which the young friends stood conformed, now swelling into projections, now smoothly descending into the valley, as if originally caused by the retiring waters of the universal deluge. The lark carolled over their heads as they hailed the morn, and saluted the resplendent beauties of the rising sun. The air was fragrant, and every spray hung with the dews of the morning, and Jocund day stood tiptoe on the misty mountain's top." The morn breathed indescribable sweetness, and the freshened flowers diffused around them their aromatic exhalations, while the zephyrs gratefully fanned them with their cool salute, and the groves echoed with the song of earliest birds. ob 02 12LI "How strange it appears," said John, "that so many of the human race live among such rich beauties without being touched with admiration of them, and how many who have a cultivated taste to discern them, look not higher to the great and glorious Author!" "Persons in the country," said Charles, "live amid a profusion of providential blessings; they witness every season-they walk, and labour, and live among the breathing sweets and blooming beauties of the lower world; while skies, shining with glories, canopy them, and yet they, perhaps, think the least of the Father of light and life." "It is too common," said John," and never does the human mind begin to look up to God till wakened by the divine Spirit from the dreams of sense and of self. But then with what rapture they can read my admired Thompson, and exclaim, Thou good supreme! Oh, teach me what is good; Teach me Thyself! Save me from folly, vanity, and vice ; From every low pursuit, and feed my soul With knowledge, conscious peace, and virtue pure, "How much do they miss," said Charles, "who indulge in morning sloth, when a creation of beauties call them forth to praise, admire, and adore! I feel myself reproved in my classic authors, I find Homer's heroes rise early and offer up their sacrifices of praise with the rising sun." "How much the beauties of the morning also are admitted in the sacred Scriptures," said John. "There we hear that Messiah shall be welcome as the light of the morning, when the sun ariseth like this morning serenely fair and unclouded, and beautiful as his clear shining after the rain of a gloomy night. Just so do those beams of the sun look which play upon the tender grass, impearled with rain-drops, shedding upon them kindly warmth and vital radiance. The Hebrew language, in this passage, is peculiarly expressive. I speak thus from the slight knowledge I have obtained of that original language of man(the language also in which God himself conversed with nis perfect creatures) from Dr. Bayley's Hebrew Grammar, which I would beg to present to you as a memorial of friendship upon our return, and I hope it may stimulate you to study that divine language." "Thank you," said Charles, "I shall prize the gift, and make it my companion till by its help I am enabled to read the sacred Scriptures in the original. Permit me to inquire, my friend, as I begin to feel a family relationship with you as one of the people of God, one of the same household of faith, how your mind was first engaged to set its affections on things above?" "The tale, though short, is deeply interesting to me," said John; "for every little incident which contributes to incline us to pursue the road to |