"Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace," Prov. iii. 17. "Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments," Psa. cxii. 1. "There be many that say, Who will show us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time when their corn and wine increased," Psa. iv. 6, 7. “A life spent in the service of God, and in communion with Him, is the happiest life this side heaven."* The true Christian enjoys with a higher and purer relish all the lawful attachments, pursuits, and pleasures of this life, than the mere man of the world can possibly experience; because he receives them not merely as common mercies, but as special tokens of love from his heavenly Father; because, in using and enjoying them, he keeps in view and promotes the great end for which they were bestowed; and because he can look with tranquillity to the period when he must resign them. They are not his all; he can give them up at the demand of Providence, or be severed from them by the stroke of death, and yet have his portion and his happiness secure. If there is such a thing as happiness on earth, it belongs to the truly religious person. In prosperity, he enjoys God in all; in distress and destitution, he enjoys all in God; and when heart and flesh fail, and he has no more a portion under the sun, God will be the strength of his heart, and his portion for ever, Psa. lxxiii. 26. * Matthew Henry's expression when dying. ""Tis religion that can give Be the living God my friend, There is another class of young females to whom this little book may be presented on occasion of their marriage—the daughters in pious families, who have been trained in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; who have witnessed from their very infancy, the happy influence of deep and genuine piety in the experience and conduct of their beloved parents. They know that the Scriptures have been highly prized by their parents, and the throne of grace has been their daily resort. There they were in the habit of seeking direction in every perplexity, assistance in every duty, support under every trial, a sanctified use of every mercy; and "a glorious high throne from the beginning" was the place of their sanctuary, Jer. xvii. 12. When cares corroded and oppressed, they knew where to seek a refuge and solace; they were accustomed to cast all their care on Him who careth for his. people; they quietly left the result in humble submission to his unerring wisdom. Perhaps they have known straits and difficulties in worldly circumstances; but, instead of murmuring or desponding, they quietly said, "Our Father knoweth what things we have need of. He shall choose our inheritance for us. It is his good pleasure to give us the kingdom, Luke xii. 30, 32; Psa. xlvii. 4; and we can trust his good providence to give us what is needful to carry us there." Their children have been in some degree acquainted with their trials; and they must also have observed that they were never without resources. They were widely different from the men of the world. Their hearts, and minds, and conversation, instead of (like the troubled sea) casting up the mire and dirt of discontent and rebellion, Isa. lvii. 20, were kept by the peace of God, which passes all understanding, Phil. iv. 7; faith, and patience, and submission were in continual exercise, and held out, until, in some unexpected moment and manner, the Lord their God seasonably appeared for them, and turned again their captivity as the streams of the south, Psa. cxxvi. 4. They have gratefully acknowledged the Divine interposition, they have said, "Jehovah-jireh; the Lord will provide: in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen," Gen. xxii. 8, 14. "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord," Psa. xxxiv. 8—11. You recollect, perhaps, some season of deep affliction in the experience of your beloved parents, some visitation of severe and lingering suffering, or some sudden stroke of bereavement; and you remember with what calm submission they bowed to the dispensation, and meekly said, "The cup that our heavenly Father giveth us, shall we not drink it?" John xviii. 11. "It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good," 1 Sam. iii. 18. Perhaps you have seen one or both of your parents descend to the tomb. You saw that the religion of the Bible, which had been their early choice, their constant directory and unfailing solace through life, their song in the house of their pilgrimage, Psa. cxix. 54, did not fail them when they came to die. They said, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me," Psa. xxiii. 4. "I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day," 2 Tim. i. 12. "Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord our God spake," Josh. xxiii. 14. And now, "God, before whom my fathers did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil," bless my children; "and let my name be named on them," Gen. xlviii. 15, 16. "And thou, my son," my daughter, "know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever," 1 Chron. xxviii. 9. And what effect has been produced on you by the precepts, examples, and admonitions of your father and your mother? They have, at least, lodged a conviction in your conscience that religion is a good thing, and that you ought to be religious; you cannot gainsay this conviction, nor can all the flippant assertions of the ungodly and ignorant dislodge it from your mind. Let worldly people say what they will, you are certain that they are neither so good nor so happy as your father and mother; and the more you are like them, the happier you think you shall be. But it is not enough that you approve the religion of others, and speak well of it. Have you, with entireness of heart and decision of purpose, embraced it for yourself? Have you said, The God of my parents shall be my God, and their people shall be my people? Ruth i. 16. "Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words. I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts," Psa. cxix. 57, 94. Or have you hitherto been halting between two opinions? 1 Kings xviii. 21; acknowledging that the Lord is God, yet hesitating to surrender yourself to him, and become his servant; saying, "How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!" Numb. xxiii. 10; xxiv. 5; yet shrinking back from the path that leads to such an end-that of denying yourself, and taking up your cross daily, and following Christ Jesus, Mark viii. 34, as your leader, your example, your dependence, your Saviour, your all in all? Oh, let this be your happy day of decision; the day of your espousals to the Lord Jesus Christ; the day from which a holy communion is instituted and maintained with the Father of your spirit; the day in which you give yourself up to Him as your Master to serve, and your portion to |