life as the distorted views of it current in modern fiction. The steaming putrescence of sin is disguised by the frankincense offered to men-made heroes. The well is poisoned, for truth is not there. Pictures morally vile make their impressions on the soul; examples utterly abominable are copied, since the mind confined to these models shapes after their fashion. When years are consumed in gazing into the shifting kaleidoscope of the talemaker rather than into the unveiled glories of God's universe, the mind is left childish, dwarfed and weak, not philosophical, strong and healthy. We question if, in some classes of society, the labours of the pulpit have been more directly negatived by the curse of strong drink itself, than by the insipidities of a fashionable literature. Many a soul under conviction of sin has, we fear, lost, in the mazes of a plot, all sight of its own tremendous responsibilities, and grieved away the Spirit of God. The evidence of our courts of justice, and the confessions of the condemned cell, establish our averment as to the blinding, intoxicating, and deceiving power of a fascinating but unhealthy literature. Books of sterling value, high in moral tone, and wide in the range of topic, invite the perusal of the searcher for truth -while towering above them all is the King of books; whereunto if a young man take heed he will cleanse

his way.

Shun the companionship of those whose pursuits are debasing.-A man is known by the company he keeps. In our nature there are tendrils that shoot out to wind around some

object dear to the heart. The friendships of youth are usually the warmest and the strongest. An ungodly companion is like a stone round the neck of a drowning man; unless it is thrown off, he will sink with it. Nothing can so much blunt the edge of truth as the sarcasm and ridicule of companions. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. "The companion of fools shall be destroyed." The excitement of society may keep up a life-prolonged laugh, to be succeeded by weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. "Come with us," is the eagerly-caught invitation; "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." Our young men in towns and cities have in this age the advantage of forming connexions with Christian associations-organizations, in our view, forming a shield of defence from the dangers and temptations of our large cities; and which have furnished wide scope for the strong and buoyant energies of youth, in spreading the Gospel of Christ.

Avoid frequenting places where sinful habits are formed and indulged. These are, the theatre, the ball-room, the gambling table, the drinking saloon, the house that is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. "Flee youthful lusts." Put away all these, revelling, drunkenness, and such like, for they that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. We enter not on the consideration of the particulars implied in this advice; it is, however, necessary to express our view of the

course that leads to success, in every bold effort to hurl away the bands of iniquity. Strong resolution and holy purpose must spring up beneath the shadow of the cross of Christ. Victory is won through grace. Augustne was in his youth "inflamed, to be satiated with infernal fires," but God's grace triumphed : he says, "I ascribe it to thy grace that thou hast melted my sins as ice is melted." "Thy truth was distilled into my heart; the flame of piety was kindled, and my tears flowed for joy." The early resolution of Wilberforce was, first, to "fly to God for pardon, pleading the blood

of Jesus;" and, secondly, when tempted to despair, still to cleave to the truth, "Christ is mighty to save." This sets the way before the soul, through which it rises to immortal youth. The noblest ambition fires the heart. "There is an angel there," said the sculptor, pointing to a block of marble, "and I must let him out." Young menworkers for eternity-let the strokes of the hammer of time bring out traces of celestial beauties in your character; and when men shall say of you, "A man is dead;" angels shall sing, "A child is born."Canadian Independent.

is the necessity that the pen and the press should be diligently and faithfully employed for this purpose.

With these views I address these lines to you, and hope, by calling your attention to the dealings of God in providence and grace with our own family, to awaken in you, by His blessing, such sentiments and feelings as shall conduce to your spiritual and everlasting welfare.

Let me, then, my dear relative, remind you

I. Of the great temporal and providential mercies by which our family has been distinguished ever since our earliest remembrance. Even when others have been friendless and destitute, wanting a home, food, clothing, and not only the comforts but the necessaries of life, we and ours from day to day, from year to

year, have been amply and constantly supplied. And why have we been favoured beyond millions? and what returns have we made to the Giver of all our mercies ?Have they induced in us lively gratitude, repentance for sin, with self-consecration to the service of God? Such should be the effect of personal and relative mercies; and without this, they may prove even a snare and mischief to our souls. Let me allude

II. To the changes that have taken place in our family. Here I refer not so much to those incident to the acquisition of education, business, profession, settlement in life, removals, &c., but to the great and solemn changes which death has made among us.

"Friend after friend departs;

Who has not lost a friend ?"

Where now are the faces of our honoured parents, and the companions of our childhood and youth? Have we not followed them to the grave, and wept over them? Ah! then the vanity of earth was seen and felt, and the importance of religion, and purposes were formed to lay these things to heart. have those feelings and purposes been remembered and carried into practical effect? The death of our own kindred, especially, should be solemnly improved, for in the course of nature we must soon follow them who are gone before.

But

Allow me, dear relative, to consider and inquire—

III. What is the actual state of our family in reference to piety and religion at the present time? What

a blessed domestic community is that where all are of one mind, and that the mind that was in Jesus Christ-a circle of hearts, of which God is the centre-parents, children, brothers,

sisters, domestics, all

agreed to serve the Lord! There are some such families, but few only. Generally, it is one of a city and two of a family who are brought to Zion. But, to go no further, dear relative, how stands the matter with our own selves? I hope I can truly say, "The Lord is my salvation;" "He has brought me up out of an horrible pit ;"-"I was blind, now I see." And permit me to make this appeal to you :-How is it with you as to this great matter? Have you seen your soul's great danger, and fled for refuge to Jesus Christ, and are you now walking in the way to the kingdom? If not, I implore you to delay the great concern no longer. Come, for God invites you -conscience speaks, and a near relation affectionately entreats you; come now to Jesus Christ for present grace and everlasting salvation. I wish only to refer

Lastly, To the great events which are coming to pass, and in which the whole of our family are deeply concerned. Here I do not allude to the vicissitudes of this life, which may prove great and trying, but to the more momentous considerations of another world, in which we are concerned in common with all the families upon earth. "One generation passeth away, and another cometh." Others will arise and fill our places, but very quickly all the remaining branches of our own family will be swept away, and can

we entertain a reasonable hope that each one of us, departing this life, passes away to one infinitely better? Besides, after death will be the judgment, when we and all our kindred must appear before the judgment-seat of Christ. Shall we be placed at His right hand? Shall we meet each other and the Lord with joy in that great day? Momentous interrogations! Shall we hear the word, "Come, ye blessed," or

will the crushing anathema, "Depart, ye cursed," sink any of our kindred down to the abyss of everlasting misery and woe? Oh, let us lay these things to heart, flee from the wrath to come, and lay hold on eternal life. With longing desire and prayer to God for the happiness and salvation of our whole family, I am, my dear Relative,

YOUR NEAR RELATION.

ACCORDING to the adage, marriage is either "the making or the marring of a man;" if true of a man, it is still more so of a woman. It has been my lot to mingle extensively with society, which has furnished me with considerable opportunities of observation. I have seen, to a fearful extent, a general absence of common prudence, not to say common sense, on a matter which is vital to happiness. No wonder if matrimonial misery is very prevalent; it could hardly be otherwise without the operation of a miracle. I have met in a pretty book on the subject with the following:

:

"Woman cannot be too cautious, too watchful, too exacting, in her choice of a lover, who from the slave of a few weeks or months (rarely years), is to become the master of her future destiny, and the guide through all time. What madness, then, to suffer the heart to be taken captive by beauty, talent, grace, fascination, before the reason is convinced of the soundness of principle,

the purity of faith, the integrity of mind, of the future husband. It is not always the all-enduring, devoted, and impassioned lover who makes the kindest, the most attentive, and forbearing husband. We have often seen the coldest inattention, the most mortifying disparagement, the most insulting inconstancy follow, even in the first months of matrimony, on the most romantic devotion and blindest adoration of courtship. The honeymoon seems to exhaust every drop of honey, and leave nothing but stings in the jar. Again, the lover who dares to be a man, and to 'hint a fault and hesitate dislike,' even though the happiness of his whole life seems to him at stake-one who may forget a bouquet, or neglect a compliment, arrives a few minutes too late, or be disinclined for a waltz or a polka, not admire a fashion, or disagree with a sentiment-such a lover, despicable and indifferent as he is pronounced to be by astounded mammas and indignant aunts (jealous for their daughters and nieces as for

themselves), and far as he falls short of romantic sisters' and young friends' exacting notions-may turn out the best of good husbands after all. If

he dared to be a man when he had every thing to gain, he will not be a coward when he has (in the world's opinion) nothing to lose."

This striking passage, so far as it goes, harmonises with the higher principles of inspiration. People of the world, in spite of all that can be said, will pursue their own course. Passion will override reason: they will continue to sow the wind, with the certain knowledge that they will reap the whirlwind. But, surely, better things might be expected of those who are disciples in the school

of Christ. Their code is simple; for them there is but one grand governing principle: "Only in the Lord" is statute law, and they disregard it at their peril! The conscientious observance of that rule will never fail to be attended with the happiest consequences. But even this, all important as it is, alone is not enough. There are other things to be carefully attended to, in order to a wellassorted and happy union. On these I shall not at present dwell; the single eye, and the devout spirit, will not have much difficulty in discovering, distinguishing, and deciding the path of duty. Wisdom is profitable to direct; and if any man lack it, let him ask God.

THOMAS SUTCLIFFE was born at Wadsworth, near Hebden Bridge, in the parish of Halifax. His parents were persons of good character and industrious habits, and with their family attended the ministry of the Gospel at the Baptist Chapel, Wainsgate, the first pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Fawcett, author of the "Essay on Anger," and the early home of the Rev. John Foster, the essayist, of Downend, near Bristol. Like many other Christian men who have become eminently pious, he owed much to a praying mother. Being in humble circumstances of life, and the father dying when Thomas was just becoming a young man, the dying father committed his beloved wife to

the care of this son as a dying legacy, saying, "Thomas will take care of his mother." This expression gives us an insight into some of the peculiar features of the young man's character, as he was well known and beloved for his kindliness of disposition and sympathy for all who were in trouble.

Of his early life little is now known by survivors, beyond the fact that he grew up in constant attendance on the house of God, was early united to the church, and diligently engaged in all those works of faith and labours of love which pious young men can always find to do in connexion with places of worship, especially in country districts and among a scattered