Thus only can you form a true, consistent, noble, generous, Christian character. Thus only can you enter into that higher faith of the soul, which not alone believes, but trusts with an unwavering assurance, the Father's promise, and rests in the Saviour's reconciling love. Thus only can you be in heart and in life a faithful, humble, sincere disciple of the Master.

LETTER XIII.

THE SABBATH.

IN

In your last letter, my dear friend, you ask in what way you can best spend the Sabbath, in order to render its hours conducive to your highest spiritual interests. I reply, that, while the manner of passing this sacred time must necessarily vary with individual circumstances and needs, there are certain great ends to be kept in view, to be modified according to your own views of duty and responsibility.

We speak of the seventh day as a season of rest; but let me earnestly entreat you not to fall into the habit, too common among many, of rendering it a day devoted to mere bodily repose, ease, and sloth, a day to indulge in the prolonged morning slumber, to enjoy the luxurious repast, to attend the public services of religion once indeed as a sort of bane to conscience, but to return home and while away the remaining hours by discussing the latest news, by frivolous and idle conversation, or dissipating every serious impression made at church by giving the

and real truth is so concealed and distorted as to be wholly beyond recognition. How fruitful are the harvests from such departures from the eternal laws of truth, justice, and love, I need not say. Unkind dissensions, bitter jealousies, petty enmities, alienated families and neighborhoods in every community, bear too evident witness of the prevalence of an evil and sin, indulged in with little or no compunction by many who call themselves Christians.

But if your self-consecration has been true in its aim and purpose, you will keep a strict and watchful guard over your words, and weigh every utterance. Even in the hour of playful conversation or of trifling repartee, you will not forget that the eye of the God of Truth and of Love is upon you; and your words, however gay and light, will yet be uttered as in his presence, and will be free from all scandal, gossip, or unkind

ness.

In the home circle, let your conversation be cheerful and loving, seeking at fit times to contribute directly to the improvement of those around you; and in the larger social gathering, at the pleasant party, or the joyous feast, remember that even there Christ recognizes his true disciple no less than in the secret closet, that even there the Master's image is to be faithfully reflected in your soul.

Avoid as you would a deadly poison the base

habit of exaggeration, misstatement, misrepresentation, and petty scandal. Indulge in no remarks about others, and repeat no words of ill-natured gossip, which you would shrink from uttering in the Saviour's presence, or hearing from his lips.

Better, far better, a continued silence, than to gain the reputation of being an entertaining, agreeable person, at the expense of blunting each finer moral feeling, and of violating the laws of truth and of Christian charity.

Were there a thorough reform among Christians even in this single respect, we might expect to enjoy a heaven upon earth, compared with the numerous troubles and dissensions now created by the mere neglect to control the words. and sanctify the speech by the spirit of exact and entire truthfulness. And does not habitual indulgence in this so-called petty sin evince a heart utterly uncontrolled by true Christian principle, -a spirit that has never really felt its own sinfulness, or realized the Saviour's tender and forbearing love? "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." If you delight in listening to petty scandal, in repeating the tale of slander, in detracting from the merits of your neighbor, in indulging in mean suspicions and covert surmises, be assured there is that within which needs a thorough and entire renewal, a spirit unsubdued and unsanctified,

a heart that rests not on the Redeemer. good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit; wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

Remember, too, that you possess no more fruitful opportunities of doing good than in the use you make of your simple, daily words, or of hours of prolonged conversation. How often can you speak the word of encouragement, or roll back the cloud of disappointment, suffering, or anxiety, by a timely expression of love and of sympathy! How often can you bless the heart of childhood, or cheer the lonely spirit, by the utterance of a glad and holy trust! How often can you impart your own treasures of mind and heart to those less favorably situated, or, by a free, spiritual communion, how may another soul be quickened to a nobler, higher life, and inspired with a deeper and more trusting faith! While you never introduce direct religious conversation at unseasonable times or places, let all your words be so pervaded by a truly religious spirit, that, whether in a grave or gay, a serious or lively mood, they shall ever mirror the purity of the soul's inmost being, -a purity that would shun even the thought of sin, and is satisfied only as it reflects more and more clearly and distinctly the Divine image.

While you mingle freely with others in the daily duties and business of life and in the so