themselves with shame-facedness." Diffidence is likewise inseparable from meekness. Their union is repeatedly presupposed in the injunctions of Holy Writ. Thus when the female sex is warned by St. Peter against a fondness for exterior embellishments; the Apostle, according to the Divine wisdom, stamped on every page of the Scriptures, subjoins: "Let their adorning be the ornament of a meck and quiet spirit;" an ornament "which," however undervalued, neglected, or despised by the world, "is in the sight of God of great price." If lowliness and humility, if conviction of inherent weakness, if gratitude for undeserved mercies, are requisite in every Christian; from every age and sex, diffidence is required. If the obligation is to be strengthened by consciousness of inexperience; it binds additional ties around youth. If delicacy of frame, and of mind, naturally predispos ing to diffidence, are special indications of the Divine will; then is the want of diffidence peculiarly offensive in young women. The declared object of the Scriptures with respect to the female sex, is to form a retiring character. To be "keepers at home;" to "guide the house;" to be "obedient to their husbands;" to "bring up their children;" to unite "fear," modest and respectful deference, with "chaste conversation;" not to be idlers," nor "tattlers," nor "busy-bodies," nor wanderers from house to house:" these are among the sacred precepts designed to impress and to sustain it. Against that character the prevailing system of modern education and modern proceedings, declares war. If the precept to be "adorned with shame-facedness," when presented to parents and instructors, be received with passive acquiescence, intending no practical regard; it experiences favorable treatment. Mere frequently it is encountered with a smile of self-complacent sagacity, with open indifference, or with undisguised contempt; as an antiquated injunction abrogated by established custom, a maxim annulled as inconsistent with the superior taste and breeding of a polished age. And the pupil who is unfortunate enough to betray symptoms of a tendency to exemplify it, hears her conformity to a scriptural model, her observance of a scriptural duty, pronounced vulgarity and ignorance of the world; and is taught that the "adorning" which God has bestowed and enjoined, is, in the eyes of enlightened fashion, a blemish and disgrace. The leading concern of the greater number of those persons, who, as relatives or guardians, have the superin

tendence of young women, seems to be, first, to train up the pupil in accomplishments for the purpose of display; and, afterwards, to push her forward into situations contrived for displaying them. To act thus is styled "doing justice" to her! If, from these lessons, and this discipline she should escape with the feelings of diffidence unsubdued; she is consigned to the influence of that general and unabashed familiarity, which constitutes, in the apprehension of multitudes, the case and perfections of modern manners. Remember, ye young, the instructions of your God. Let not custom with her countless worshipers seduce you to deem effrontery politeness; or to regard a Christian grace as dependent on the sanction of an idol. "Come out from among them and

be ye separate.'

But while diffidence is assiduously cherished, as no less in itself a virtue than an ornament and guard of every other virtue; let not its nature be so misconceived, its influence so unwisely extended, as to rob the mind of self-possession. Amidst ingenuous humility and retiring meckness, let discernment to perceive the track of duty, promptitude to enter it, perseverance to abide in it, be unimpaired. Let not Christain molesty degenerate into false shame. "Be not ashamed when it concerneth thy soul. For there is a shame that bringeth sin....and there is a shame which is glory and grace." "Accept no person against thy soul; and let not the reverence of any man cause thee to fall." "Be thou not ashamed of the law of the Most High." "Be thou not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord." Ridicule is a weapon. which the diffidence of youth is least able to parry. "Take" then to thyself the "shield of faith." That shield no dart of the wicked one can penetrate. When sinners entice thee, consent thou not." "Follow not a multitude to do evil." Remember Him, who for thy sake "hid not his face from shame and spitting, endured the cross. despised the shame." Remember his awful denunciation: "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shail the son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in his own glory and the glory of the Taiher." Remember the Apostles of your Lord, who "rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." "As Christ has suffered for us; arm yourselves likewise with the same mind." "If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." "Blessed art thou when men shall revile

thee, and say all manner of evil concerning thee falsely for the sake of Christ." "Rejoice and be exceeding glad." Maintain not an unhallowed silence, when evil is set before thee. With meekness, yet openly and firmly, bear thy testimony to the commandments of thy Redeemer. "Confess Him before men; that when He shall appear thou mayest have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming."

VIII. A duty whose claims on youth are particularly strong, whose sphere embraces every duty already inculcated, finally presents itself. This duty is Exertion.

"He that gathereth in summer, is a wise son." If to require much from those to whom much has been committed be a rule of equity so obvious, as to have established by the common consent of mankind, its authority over worldly transactions; do you forget that God has promulgated this identical rule as the criterion of your final doom? The line of exertion traced out by the hand of duty, for the youth of either sex, will be varied by the elevations and depressions, and by every other variety of local circumstances, which diversities of rank and situation introduce into that part of the map of life, through which, in different instances, it is conducted. And in all cases, the exertion of young women will predominate in the unobtrusive offices of domestic life; that of the robuster sex, in the laborious cares of business. Rejoice, then, ye young, in your strength. Rejoice, not that you have your strength for toilsome dissipation and sinful indulgence; but strength to dedicate to God; strength to sustain the declining years, and requite the early solicitude of a parent; strength to uphold a brother, or a sister, tottering in the rugged paths of tribulation; strength to succor a circle of relatives and friends in proportion to their respective claims and necessities; strength to prove by active and diversified usefulness, that you love your neighbor as yourself; strength to superintend and guide in the fear of God, a household, or a progeny of your own; strength to labor in the discharge of the duties attached to the station in which, He who disposes the lot of all men, has ordained that you should labor for Him. Rejoice, ye young: rejoice and glorify your Redeemer. "Be not partakers of other men's sins....keep yourselves pure." Bear fruit abundantly unto Christ. Lay up treasures for life everlasting. Employ your unbroken vigor, your unclouded minds, as "instruments of rightousness unto holiness;"

instruments for promoting the temporal and eternal welfare of yourselves, and of all with whom ye are connected. Look to Him who went about doing good; to Him whose meat and drink it was to do the will of his Father. Be diligent in well-doing. Be not ensnared into a pursuit of trifles. Work, thou who art entering on the days of thy prime, work for God and man. Work for conscience' sake; work till the night cometh when no man can work. Then, when thy limbs tremble with age, and languor creeps over thy frame; then shall thine heart be cheered with the remembrance of past exertion: then thou shalt bless the grace of God, which disposed and enabled thee to bear with faithful perseverance, the burden and heat of the day.

In the subjects which have occupied the present and preceding discourse, you have contemplated, my youthful friends, the principal marks of that scriptural character, for the attainment of which your God commands you to "come forth and be separate" from the world. "Touch not the unclean thing." A solemn and most comprehensive injunction! You are surrounded by contagion. Contamination lurks on every side. The objects which custom and example obtrude on your regard, are too often like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but within are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness." The paths which you are invited to tread, lead among "graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them." Linger not in the precincts of destruction. Sport not amidst the breath of infection. Pity the wretched victims of corruption; but "come out from among them and be ye separate." Such is the mandate! Does the Father of mercies issue a command unaccompanied with encouragement to obedience? Never. What, in the present instance, is the encouragement? "I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." "What though folly shuts her doors against your return? My portals open at your approach. What though pride disclaims your friendship? I will love you as a Father. What though the world disowns you as her children? Ye shall be my sons and daughters," saith Jehovah. Within the scope of this promise what blessing is not comprised? To be rescued from the dominion of darkness and translated into the kingdom of light; to be transformed from enemies into servants of the Most High;

to be made objects of love to Infinite Goodness; to be sheltered under the wings of Omnipotence; to be guided by the superintendence of Eternal Wisdom; to be washed in the blood, sanctified by the grace, accounted as the brethren and sisters of God's Incarnate Son; "to receive into our hearts the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba, Father?" to have "the Spirit itself bear witness with our spirit that we are the children of God; to be heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ;" to "rejoice" under every carthly trial with joy unspeakable and full of glory," in the conviction of the love of our heavenly Father, and in the hope of an incorruptible inheritance of bliss: these are among the privileges of the sons and daughters of the Almighty. "Having, therefore, these promises, dearly beloved; let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Mark the earnestness of affectionate entreaty with which the Apostle animates you to labor for the high prize of your calling. "I speak," he cries, almost immediately before he delivers the word of the text, "I speak as unto my children." Bear with me if I feel a portion of his carnestness. "I speak as unto my children." Shall these stupendous mercies be proposed to you in vain? When the Lord of the universe, the God whose favor constitutes the blessedness of angels and archangels, stretches forth to you, unworthy and sinful as he knows you to be, the arms of Eternal love; do you recoil, do you hesitate, do you loiter? When Jesus the Redeemer of mankind points out to the cross on which he died for your offences, and thence direct your eyes to the mansions in his Father's house; will you prove yourselves dead to gratitude, blind to glory?— When the spirit of sanctification is solicitous to shed abroad the love of God in your hearts; will you refuse the grace of adoption, will you seal yourselves the children of the devil? Far be such infatuation! Be you, like young Timothy, an "example to believers." Hasten to range yourselves under the banner of heaven. Survey the promised recompense, the victor's crown. But prepare your hearts for the warfare. Prepare to contend against "principalities and powers" of darkness, against the "rulers of the darkness of this world," against "the prince of this world," the "God of this world." Prepare to fight against

evil desires, and corrupt example, to cleanse yourself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. The body of corruption must be