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But the sublime and the beautiful in religion, is the bending of the youthful form before the majesty of heaven, the eye moistened with the tear of contrition or of gratitude, the upraised hand, and the soul poured out in prayer and selfdedication, all-all animated by the warm inspiration of a heart changed and sanctified by grace.

Our readers are probably principally of the female sex, whom we would entreat to study the history of Ruth, and to imitate the example of her self-denying, resolute, persevering attachment to true, vital religion. The circumstances in which she was, and the circumstances in which many of you are placed, are undoubtedly those of strong temptation and most powerful struggles between God and the world. But no matter what your condition may be, whether in your father's house or 'married to a husband;' no matter whether at home or in a strange land, in society or in solitude, followed or neglected, the choice of God is your only security of present or of future happiness. Upon your easy, gentle, flexible, and generally complying dispositions, will many inordinate demands be made, which will tend to jeopardize your salva

1 husband, or a giect the worship v, to intermit your

y pleasures which love and their duty to

have some green spot upon weddiesa s
tear-filled eyes may rest, an
of their present condition, the
that cheering contemplation c.
in the Lord Jesus Christ,
cious in their sight, and ena
doctrine by the loveliness
profession. But how cons
how lovely in the eyes of ot,
implanted religion of the
exhibited in many of the
it been said, that 'youth,
present a most interesting.

There is one grand asy, and gentle, and ou should be, in things yet it is your priviv, upon it in a measure where your religious re the testimony of a and where your duty

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If there is a skies, it is the sight of from the most deeply fe secrates herself to God. may be, the mountain. clouds, and adown w sounding cataract. be, the verdant landrivulet, and its me

elments of temptation;

e compliance, break r is it that temporal eh, than that the ity.

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the bonds of a friendship ity of religious interest.

not tell us how long this affechy were lovely in their life; hat distance one followed the They were blessed by God y and happiness, and now they But, superior to all these reflecler learn the everlasting imporion, and the indispensable necestween God and the world. The departed is a matter now hidden only to be fully revealed at that when the secrets of all hearts shall nd the destiny of men determined able decree of heaven. We are wever, to form a humble opinion, and conversation of the individual;

ige by this rule, the destiny of Orphah Ruth will be as different as the choice h they made on earth. Upon our choice depend our position on the right or the left and of the Judge; and we

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tion; and frequently, for a parent, a husband, or a friend, will you be tempted to neglect the worship of God, to violate the Lord's day, to intermit your devotions, or to engage in worldly pleasures which wean your hearts from their love and their duty to their Maker and Redeemer. There is one grand distinction to be made. Easy, and gentle, and flexible, and complying, as you should be, in things indifferent or praise-worthy, yet it is your privilege-nay, it is your duty-nay, upon it in a measure depends your salvation—that where your religious principles are concerned, where the testimony of a good conscience is concerned, and where your duty to God is involved, you should set your 'faces like a flint' against all the encroachments of temptation; and rather than bend in the compliance, break beneath the blast. For better is it that temporal happiness be rooted from the earth, than that the soul should lose its hold upon eternity.

Observe, if you please, a moment, the attractions of friendship and affection, when founded upon religious principles.

While Ruth bore to Naomi the relation and affection of a daughter-in-law, she also stood con

nected with her in the bonds of a friendship founded on a community of religious interest.

The history does not tell us how long this affection continued. They were lovely in their life; we know not at what distance one followed the other to the tomb. They were blessed by God with great prosperity and happiness, and now they rejoice together. But, superior to all these reflec

tions, let every reader learn the everlasting importance of true religion, and the indispensable necessity of a choice between God and the world. The final state of the departed is a matter now hidden from our view only to be fully revealed at that tremendous day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, and the destiny of men determined by the irrevocable decree of heaven. We are permitted, however, to form a humble opinion, from the life and conversation of the individual; and if we judge by this rule, the destiny of Orphah and of Ruth will be as different as the choice

which they made on earth. Upon our choice will depend our position on the right or the left hand of the Judge; and we may rest assured that while eternal life is the rich provision of the mercy

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