and from the intrigues of those worse than lions, and raised him to govern in the proudest kingdom of the world. Peter, and Paul, and Silas, he delivered from prison, to the confusion of their enemies. To martyrs he gave such tokens of friendship as caused them to sing of victory, even upon the rack and at the stake.

Not only has he been the refuge of his people in trouble, he has imparted wisdom to their counsels, and energy to their efforts, and triumph to their enterprises. Through his blessing a little one has chased a thousand, and a small one subdued a strong nation. Do you covet the esteem of the good, and the favor of the great? There is One whose friendship has a value above that of the universe beside. "For if God be for us, who can be against us?" Secure his friendship, by a devout, consistent, decided piety, and his omnipotence is pledged for your safety and happiness.

He may

not give you wealth, but he will bestow the treasures of his grace. He may not exempt you from trial, but he will cause all things to work together for your good; "that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold which perisheth, may be found unto praise, and honor, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ." "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the floods, they shall not overflow thee." They that trust in him are secure. For sooner will he dash the sun from the heavens, than suffer any of the true interests of his people to be sacrificed. His love to them is an everlasting love.

LETTER III.

You are now at a period of life and in circumstances frought with pleasing anticipations. The world is before you as a theatre of action. And the very object, indeed, of your literary toils is to qualify you to give direction to the affairs of mankind. It is an error, however, if you suppose that the treasures of science are all that is demanded to secure for you distinction among men. In still urging the cultivation of a high religious character, let me say, then, that

Eminent piety will increase your power; and that of the best kind.

It has ever been an object of ambition

with man to gain ascendency over his fellow-men. In pursuit of this object, he has struggled for knowledge, for wealth, for office. And, by such means, he has partially realized the fulfilment of his desires. He has swayed the opinions, and directed the movements, and, perhaps, received the hosannas of the multitude.

Power thus sought and acquired is, however, always to be dreaded. Too often it has been used only for purposes of selfaggrandizement, or of mischief.

But while the gospel reprobates a sordid worldly ambition, the mere desire of influence it does not discountenance. It is a principle of our nature which religion sanctifies, and consecrates to a benevolent use. And it is this sanctified power at which you are commanded to aim ;-power to expose error, to subdue prejudice, to scatter light, to awaken, and concentrate, and direct the energies of those around

you, for the accomplishment of objects truly desirable. And this power an elevated godliness can hardly fail to impart.

Does eminent piety suppress the corrupt appetites and passions? Does it harmonize and concentrate all the useful faculties? Does it secure the confidence of mankind, the bad as well as good? Does it ensure the blessing of Almighty God?-How then can it operate otherwise than to augment your power? What, but circumstances like these, brought forth Peter, the disciple, from obscurity, and rendered him the intrepid and successful champion of the Christian cause? What, but circumstances like these, gave such grandeur to the movements of the great apostle of the Gentiles? What, but circumstances like these, enabled Luther, (once a poor boy that sang in the streets for his bread,) to withstand the vengeance of popes and emperors, and to give new light and life to the moral world?