fascinations, and woos you away to its arms, God, and God alone, is the "strength of your heart." When afflictions come, and the soul is made sad and desolate, where then shall you look, but to Him who heareth the mourner's cry? Prayer has ever been powerful and efficient. It has wiped away the tear of the penitent, and lighted up the gleam of hope. It has broken the stout sinews of rebellion, and transformed the lion to the lamb.

In the work of self-examination, be close and thorough; be habitual and persevering. Let a nice discrimination run through your investigations. Remember your aim. It is high; it is the elevated character. Deal faithfully then with your own soul. Arraign it at a diurnal tribunal, and judge it, severely judge it, from the law of God. Anticipate the great and final account. It will then not burst upon you unprepared. You will go calmly forward to the bar of God, and unhesitatingly open your bosom, conscious of forgiveness, to his keen inspection.

Let the word of God dwell in your heart. Study its sacred pages with prayerful diligence, and bow to its doctrines with implicit faith.

Be it the man of your counsel; the guide of your belief; the foundation of your hope.

In short, take to yourself the whole armour of God; the shield of faith, by which you may quench the fiery darts of Satan; the helmet of salvation, to adorn and defend your head; the breast-plate of righteousness, to cover your bosom from the shafts of calumny or of envy; the sword of the Spirit, whose keen edge will make you resolute and fearless in the attack, powerful and irresistible in the defence. Thus arrayed, look upward, and press onward. God is your strength; and when He nerves the arm, though it be the arm of the weakest believer, that arm is irresistible. Lay not aside your weapons, while one foe within is unsubdued, or one enemy without unconquered. But life is short. The time is at hand, when you shall have a full and free discharge. The crown of glory glitters in prospect. After a few more days of fidelity to your King, that crown shall be placed upon your brow.

When death comes, he will prove your last enemy. As he falls beneath your triumphant struggle, you shall hear the notes of victory, bursting from ten thousand angels on your Then your work is done. Then

dying ear.

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ADVICE TO A YOUNG CHRISTIAN.

your warfare is over. On yonder heavenly plains, you shall receive a golden harp, and learn celestial music. You shall sound that name by which you conquered; and in your eternal song, chant the praise of Him, who sitteth upon the throne, and of the Lamb forever. The trials of life will be remembered no more, or if remembered, will serve as new themes of praise and thanksgiving.

What a consummation! Who would not struggle a few short days, to inherit so rich a reward to wear forever so bright a diadem?