serious conversation, and allured by the attractive
beauty of a consistently serious life. And while a young woman ought to
dread the name of a wrangling polemic, it is her duty to aspire after
the honourable character of a sincere Christian. But this dignified
character she can by no means deserve, if she is ever afraid to avow her
principles, or ashamed to defend them. A profligate, who makes it a
point to ridicule every thing which comes under the appearance of formal
instruction, will be disconcerted at the spirited yet modest rebuke of a
pious young woman. But there is as much efficacy in the manner of
reproving prophaneness, as in the words. If she corrects it with
moroseness, she defeats the effect of her remedy, by her unskilful
manner of administring it. If, on the other hand, she affects to defend
the insulted cause of God, in a faint tone of voice, and studied
ambiguity of phrase, or with an air of levity, and a certain
expression of pleasure in her eyes, which proves she is secretly
delighted with what she pretends to censure, she injures religion much
more than he did who publickly prophaned it; for she plainly indicates,
either that she does not believe, or respect what she professes. The
other attacked it as an open foe; she betrays it as a false friend. No
one pays any regard to the opinion of an avowed enemy; but the desertion
or treachery of a professed friend, is dangerous indeed!

IT is a strange notion which prevails in the world, that religion only
belongs to the old and the melancholy, and that it is not worth while to
pay the least attention to it, while we are capable of attending to any
thing else. They allow it to be proper enough for the clergy, whose
business it is, and for the aged, who have not spirits for any business
at all. But till they can prove, that none except the clergy and the
aged _die_, it must be confessed, that this is most wretched
reasoning.

GREAT injury is done to the interests of religion, by placing it in a
gloomy and unamiable light. It is sometimes spoken of, as if it would
actually make a handsome woman ugly, or a young one wrinkled. But can
any thing be more absurd than to represent the beauty of holiness as the
source of deformity?

THERE are few, perhaps, so entirely plunged in business, or absorbed in
pleasure, as not to intend, at some future time, to set about a
religious life in good earnest. But then they consider it as a kind of
_dernier ressort_, and th