amongst the Jews was a striking expression of the wisdom and benevolence of God. The frequent violation of it was the source of incalculable mischief. Hence their affections were alienated from the Creator-their sacred institutions profanedtheir characters demoralized, and their peace destroyed, by many awful judgments, with which the righteous Governor thought proper to visit their disobedience. And whatever there may be of degeneracy in the present condition of the religious world, we may venture to ascribe, in no small degree, to the matrimonial alliances so frequently formed between the servants of Christ and persons destitute of the christian character.

In making these observations, we are well aware that the subject on which they turn is one in which, of all others, most persons are least inclined to listen to the dictates of prudence and the graver lessons of religion. That which is commonly understood by love, is a wayward spirit, reckless of consequences, and deaf to the voice of wisdom. It throws around its object the delusive radiance of its own imaginations, and the spell is seldom broken by waving the wand of argument and remonstrance. Reason must be enslaved when the affections are on the throne; and the chief security, therefore, against the evil under notice, lies in a determination made, in the strength of God, to watch with becoming jea

lousy over the feelings, to subject them to a proper discipline, and to resist every imprudent and unscriptural attachment, in the earliest stage of its existence, ere it has reached maturity, and acquired ungovernable power. With this view, it seems peculiarly desirable that the attention of young christians should be directed, as soon as it may be consistent with propriety, to the scriptural rule of marriage, and that their minds should be impressed with the unspeakable folly of contemplating so important a condition in life without mature deliberation and earnest prayer for the guidance and blessing of Heaven. And let it be remembered, that the force of affection does not in this, or in any other instance, exempt them from the obligations of Piety, and that it cannot protect them from the consequences which are likely to ensue from an unsuitable connexion in life. A young and serious person, of an imaginative and susceptible turn of mind, may be thrown into circumstances of such a nature as that duty may demand a considerable sacrifice of feeling and earthly interest, and occasion no ordinary struggle. The affections may be allured by an object possessing, perhaps, almost every desirable qualification, with the exception, to all appearance, of that one thing, in the absence of which there must, however, be a radical defect in the fairest character, and a deficiency which cannot be supplied by

the combined attractions of beauty, wit, and wealth. But no earthly sacrifice is too great to be laid on the altar of Piety, and none can be too costly to admit of certain and ample compensation from her munificent hands. And it behoves us ever to remember that true religion is a paramount principle. Our duty and happiness consist in supreme love to the Creator. Every sentiment short of this is rebellion against him. It is the idolatry of the heart, and cannot fail to attract the notice and bring down the displeasure of a God who is jealous of his honour. Even the love of life itself is required to be subordinate to the nobler principle of love to the Saviour.* To maintain, indeed, the ascendency of the religious sentiment, constitutes the great object at which every disciple of Christ is called daily to aim in dependence on the Holy Spirit, whose influences are promised to help our infirmities, and secure our triumph over the world. With this view, the christian is taught to struggle against sin-to watch and pray-to guard against the enslaving fascinations of sense, and the predominance of human passion—to call into his aid the powers of the world to come—and to live habitually in the contemplation of the Saviour's bright example. In so doing, he may humbly expect to acquire an elevation of mind

*Mark viii, 35. Luke xiv. 26.

which the man of earth can never know-an elevation which will be its own reward, bringing the peace" which passeth all understanding," and fitting him for that better world, where the pure and deepened current of his feelings will flow on without interruption, and for ever.

CHAPTER XI.

HINTS ON THE DUTY OF CHRISTIANS TOWARDS THEIR IRRELIGIOUS FRIENDS.

IN the preceding chapter some remarks were suggested on the importance of making religion the basis of the voluntary relations, and of that alliance, more particularly, which is consummated at the nuptial altar. There is another view of the subject discussed in these pages, which cannot fail to engage the attention of the christian. We refer to the light in which it places his obligations towards those of his friends and kindred, if such there be, who are destitute of the religious character. And this, it is obvious, is a topic into which none will fully enter but those who are the subjects of genuine Piety, and who accustom themselves to look at their duty as it stands revealed to them in the unerring word of truth. We have adverted already to the close connexion which there is between personal religion and the exercise of christian beneficence. If our religion