which life everlasting is to be had. Our Lord informs us, they who expect to gain it by climb-' ing up any other way, will be treated as thieves and robbers. Oh then, my dear friends, in every part of Ireland, I earnestly desire that ye may buy the truth, whatever it cost you, and fell it not. Look upon all things befide, but as drofs or dung in comparison of it. Let us held faft the one thing needful, whatever elfe leave us or be taken from us. So fhall we have liv'd not in vain, obtaining the great end for which we had being giv en us. XVI. O ye parents, who have many children, and not much of the world for them, don't be over anxious on that account, or make it an excufe, for non-attendance of religious duties. Confider that it may be wifely fo ordered, as the means of their prefervation; and if they follow Chrift, it may prove of great advantage to them, beyond what ye and they are aware of. A little fatisfies a humble mind, as we brought nothing into the world, and can carry nothing out. They who obtain the favour of God, will neither want any thing needful, nor covet any thing fuperfluous, but having food and raiment, therewith be content. Wherefore be anxious for them, only on A a this account, that they may hold on eternal life, and keep their hold of that; then they will be truly happy, but not without it, if they had ever fo much in the world. They are indeed juftly to be esteemed, who having more, are thereby the more humbled, and more abounding in useful fervices and good works. And O ye young people, often confider, that ye are born into the world, to be happy for ever, on the terms laid down by Chrift, as abovementioned. With all your gettings, get the favour of the most high, who invites you to it: before honour, even true honour with God, is humility; but pride goes before destruction. Ye need not envy any one, however great in the world, if ye have the Lord on your fide. United with your dear parents, in walking humbly with him, ye will have the enlarged view of your happy portion. Your fervent gratitude, obedience, vigilance and firmnefs, will be crowned with the endearing pledges and encouraging foretaftes, of endless blifs. So will ye be well fatisfied with your lots in every condition, (and find that godliness coupled with divine contentment is the greatest, and infinitely the most valuable gain,) being fitted by your bleffed redeemer for life, death, judgment, and for that eternal joy, which is unspeakable and full of glory. So will ye be alive to God, and of that number whom he pronouces bleffed, who hunger and thirst after righteoufnefs. So will ye carefully watch against every thing that is wrong, both in yourselves and others, and endeavour to top it in it's first begining: ye will love that which is good, and employ all your talents, with divine help, to promote both by example and brotherly counfel. Then would meetings both for worship and difcipline be well attended; for coming to them under the preparation of heart which is of the Lord, we fhould by him be overfhadowed with his power and love; the wing of the fun of righteousness, would be overfpread, which illuminates the fpiritual mind to discern it's duties, and animates to difcharge them, therein to fhare the good things which God has in store for them that love him. We should hereby be edified and built up together in the most holy faith, and concerned to live in reverent love and fubjection to him out of meetings, faithfully maintaining our teftimony for Chrift our holy head, in all it,s branches. So fhould we be again, as formerly, a people of one heart and mind, baptized by one fpirit into one body: all the darkness of ignorance and inexperience, all the coldness of the worldly or carnal mind would be removed; and Zion's light would yet again go forth with brightness, and the falvation of God be felt amongst us, as a lamp that burneth. With strong defires on the behalf of all, who, in this nation, join in the profeffion of the bleffed truth, that they may thus experience the poffeffion of it, and be partakers of it's faving effiand lafting peace, I remain your affectionate and well-wishing friend, cacy |