building up the cause of destruction, and will finally plunge yourself in the ruins. Permit me to intreat you, by all the love I bear for your immortal soul, not to defer attending to a subject of such infinite moment, as its welfare involves. Is it a matter of little consequence whether you are at last to sink down in endless misery, or rise to a blissful immortality? Can you be regardless of a subject which involves your eternal interest? Oh! be intreated immediately to seek a better portion, a richer treasure, a more enduring substance, than this poor earth can bestow. Soon, very soon, these fleeting scenes will be past. The social circle will be broken, the gay cease to amuse, the young to excite admiration, and all these transitory, and visionary pleasures be exchanged for the solemn realities of eternity. To the departing soul, this earth affords no consolation, it tenders no comforts, it proffers no hopes. Nothing but the religion of our Divine Saviour can mitigate the anguish of the bed of death, and transport the dying penitent to the Paradise of God. Never fancy that religion will make you gloomy. There is no gloom attached to the religion of Jesus. The Christian does indeed experience many melancholy hours for his departures from the divine standard of his life. But when the Saviour spreads his banner over him, and condescends to commune with him, earth is too narrow to support his joy. But I need not reason with you, my Dear, your heart gives full assent to the truth. May your life bear testimony to its comforts.

You will pardon my anxiety for her, who feels all that a sister's love can prompt her to feel. Dedicate yourself to the Lord without reserve. Devote yourself in heart and in life to his service, and you shall have treasure in heaven.

INFLUENCE OF THE GOSPEL.

THAT “the tree is known by its fruits," is a maxim which is supported by the experience of ages, and sanctioned by the authority of Heaven. We cannot always judge of moral principles in the abstract. Their particular operation, as connected with the interests of the world, is often necessary in order to justify us in pronouncing an opinion either in their favour or against them. That must be intrinsically good, which, in its natural, legitimate, and unrestrained effect, subtracts even a few particles from the accumulated amount of human misery, and adds even a few drops to the cup of sublunary enjoyment. Any principle or institution, which is calculated to produce these effects ought to be welcomed as a good angel, the object of whose mission is to compose the conflicts of a jarring world, to repair the devastations wrought by sin, and to scatter a few rays of heaven's own blessed light upon the nations of the earth. Speculations, which are connected with no practical good, are of little worth. The wise-drawn theories which are calculated only to amuse and gratify the moonstruck brain of him with whom they originated, occupy a low place in the estimation of the practical philosopher. This is a world of energy and action: and every thing adapted to the work of reformation, every principle calculated to raise and purify the earth, and every institution which can heal the wounds of bleeding nature and augment the population of Heaven, ought to be held in requisition for these benevolent labours.

Of the purity of Christain principles, there can be no question. Every doubt on the subject is forever put to rest, even the enemies of this system themselves being judges. To the operation of this Religion we are indebted, that every City is not a Sodom, and every land "a field of blood," and to this may be attributed all the delicacy of sentiment and correctness of moral feeling, which distinguish us from the licentious Mussulman, and the remorseless Pagan. We cannot forbear subjoining the inference to which this fact unavoidably leads us, that

those who make war against the Gospel are not the friends of moral purity. A wish to extinguish the Sun of the moral System must be connected with the "love of darkness rather than light."

The tendency of Christain Institutions is by no means equivocal. The Gospel has both a direct and indirect operation upon every thing which relates to man. To say nothing of that joy unspeakable which it is capable of infusing into the bosom of its humble votary, or of that consolation with which it can bind up the bleeding heart, or of that starry crown and wavering palm, and perpetuity of bliss to which it points in the beatific regions of the paradise of God; to say nothing of these effects of the Gospel, it ever excites throughout the great mass of human society an influence, which is too often overlooked or undervalued, both by its enemies and by its friends. There is not an institution of man in civil society, but feels the power, I had almost said the omnipotence, of the Gospel. Political systems, and moral creeds, and philosophical theories have been moulded or modified, by the doctrines inculcated and the institutions erected by the word of God. The governments of the world have felt the influence, the moral face of the globe has changed for the better, and evils of the most malignant character have been diminished where they have not been annihilated. It is true that our world still abounds with evil. It presents to the weeping eye of philanthropy a dark and gloomy picture. An Angel might drop a tear upon the earth, and mingle the sigh of sympathy with the groans of its suffering popula tion; but the Gospel and its Institutions have effected much; the history of all the nations of antiquity presents to us almost uninterrupted scenes of tyranny, devastation, and blood. Modern warfare is much less sanguinary, and modern government much less despotic, than ancient; More civil liberty is enjoyed and fewer crimes stain the records of the earth. Had a change of this magnitude been effected in the lapse of a few years, it would have appeared like the operation of a charm or a miracle. What learning, and talents, and power, and wealth, and experience, and centuries could not accomplish, has been

gradually and imperceptibly brought about by the secret though powerful operations of christain institutions.

Had it not been for the influence of the Gospel, I venture to say, that barbarism would to this day have overspread the earth; idols would have been our deities. The iron hand of ancient despotism would have continued to crush the inhabitants of the world and such a system of government as our own happy country enjoys, would never have found a place in the records nations.

I have only time to add, that to the Gospel we are indebted for almost every thing that is good, and by this we enjoy an exemption from much that is evil. To this system we may trace the mercies which cheer our lives, the consolations which sweeten our afflictions, the power which plucks away the sting of death, and the lamp which pours its splendour into the grave and darts some of its rays across the confines of that broad eternity which borders on time.

A. T****.

ON LENGTHY PIECES.

For the Monitor.

Mr. Editor,

ALTHOUGH the pages of your Magazine seem to be written by men of learning, still I hope you will be disposed for once to bear patiently with one who is plain and unlearned. Surely I would not expose my scribbling to public notice, did I not think it might possibly contain some suggestions, that would prove useful to the Editor and writers of the Monitor. Being a constant reader of this and of some other monthly publications, I have had a good opportunity to notice the great variety in the length of the pieces they contain. Now I confess, Mr. Editor, that I am much better pleased, and I believe generally as well edified, by reading the short pieces, as those which are the longest. And I do think, that, were some of the directors of these publications

to pay more attention to this subject, and curtail or abridge the communications or selections which appear in their works, their readers would peruse them with increased interest and profit. That my thoughts on this subject may appear more distinctly, I will give them some arrangement.

1. Long pieces make many readers weary before they get through them. Numbers of those, who take such works as the Monitor, are plain, common, labouring people. They are not greatly used to reading-they are not accustomed to sit long without stirring-they read rather slowly-and they often become quite tired before they finish the piece which they began to read.

2. The great length of pieces frequently prevents their being read. Many can command but little time for reading a few short intervals from labour or business in the course of the day is all they can devote to this purpose. They rarely have leisure sufficient at any one time to complete the longest pieces. Others, who have sufficient time, are so discouraged when looking at long pieces, that they quickly pass them over without ceremony. Now, Mr. Editor, I know that those, who slight good communications on account of their length, are sometimes without a sufficient excuse for it. Still we must take mankind as they are-we ought to do what will benefit them most.

3. Long pieces are not so well remembered as short ones. They are usually less interesting, and less likely to make a strong impression. Their features are not so strongly marked, and the ideas which they contain, are not so prominent. This, I think, Sir, is usually the case. In short sketches, the object is generally apparent, in full view, and not likely to be overlooked-the language more forcible, stronger, and plainer-the sentiments more weighty, more easily comprehended, and more indelibly impressed upon the mind.

4. Long pieces prevent that measure of variety, which is desirable in periodical publications. Variety is pleasing to all. Whether in amusement, study, or labour, it affords delight. In the employment of the mind it is more especially desirable. Not a few of those, who take up