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"Wherefore O king let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy unto the poor, if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity." When expounding the writing on the wall to a dissolute sovereign, he used a similar degree of bold fidelity. "This is the interpretation of the thing. MENE, God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it. TEKEL, thou art weighed in the balance, and found wanting. PERES, thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." There was a holy integrity of character in this prophet, which led him to speak the messages of God plainly, whatever might be the result to himself. And here is a FOURTH reason why he was a man greatly beloved of God.

A consideration of the ADVANTAGES which resulted to. Daniel, from being greatly beloved of God, must be deferred till our next Number.

FOOTSTEPS OF THE FLOCK.

IT is generally admitted, that the hopes of the State and of the Church are suspended on the young; but in practice this is extensively overlooked. Yet to this subject, the attention of the pious, especially of pious ministers, has been much directed in past ages. It is true, indeed, that a century ago, they were not blessed with Sabbath-schools: but then every pious family was a school for religious instruction on the Sabbath. There was not then so much systematic attention bestowed on childhood as is now bestowed in many parts of NewEngland, but there was much more attempted and done for YOUTH who had past the scenes of childhood:-youth from fourteen years old up to manhood. Evidence of

this exists in the fact that President Willard's "Body of Divinity" is composed of Lectures on the Catechism, delivered to YOUTH. Additional evidence is found in Prince's "Christian History," which is now open before us. An extract from this scarce work we will present to our readers.

"In the spring of 1721, the eight ministers who carried on the public lecture, taking into consideration the la

mentable defect of piety among our young people, agreed to preach a course of sermons at the lecture to them. The audiences were considerably crowded: and while the word of God was loudly sounding, he lifted up his awful rod, by sending the small-pox into the town, which began to spread to our general consternation; scarce a quarter of the people being thought to have had it ; and none of the numerous youth under eighteen years of age, it being so many years since that fatal pestilence prevailed among us. The sermons were quickly printed, with another added by the venerable Dr. Increase Mather, for further benefit. Many of the younger people especially, were then greatly awakened; and many hun.. dreds of them, quickly after, swept into eternity."

From this extract it will be seen, that the effects of those faithful labours corresponded with the means used.

Both the plan and the execution were judicious. An obliging clerical friend has favoured us with a loan of this course of sermons on EARLY PIETY. We will here give their table of contents, and in some future Number of our work, will introduce some extracts from them.

SERMON I.-The Pious Parent's Wishes.-By Dr. COTTON MATHER.

II. The Nature of Early Piety, as it respects God.By Mr. WADSWORTH.

III. Early Piety, as it respects Men.-By Mr. COL.

MAN.

IV. Early Piety, as it respects Ourselves.-By Mr. SEWALL.

V. The Obligations to Early Piety.-By Mr. PRINCE. VI. The Advantages of Early Piety.-By Mr. WEBB. VII. Objections Answered.-By Mr. COOPER.

VIII. Exhortations and Directions to Young People.--By Mr. FoxCROFT.

IX. Advice to the Children of Godly Ancestors.-By the Reverend and Aged INCREASE MATHER.

We are fully convinced that the period of youth, from fifteen to manhood, is peculiarly favourable to religious improvement. We do believe that this period is lamentably neglected, in most congregations in New-England. We do feel that more ought to be attempted, and

that more may be effected with them. We wish it to be distinctly understood, that our labours will be principally directed to benefit that class in the community, which has risen above childhood.

The attention of several ministers in Boston has been recently, and successfully, turned to their youth. We bid them God-speed; and we would gladly arouse all the ministers in this Commonwealth, and in sister States, to go and do likewise. The object is IMPORTANT. It is PRACTICABLE. They will find a BLESSING in it. We hope these few remarks may provoke abler pens to do justice to the subject, in our future pages. At any rate, we are determined, that it shall not quietly sleep, if our feeble efforts can prevent it..

ADVICE TO AN APPRENTICE, IN A LETTER FROM THE REV. MR. HERVEY..

The following Letter, extracted from the pages of the Cottage Magazine, where it is said to be original, we trust will' prove interesting, and profitable to some of our Readers..

DEAR BROTHer,

I Find you are in London looking out for a trade and master to set yourself to. I hope you pray earnestly to God, to guide you in your choice by his infinite wisdom. He only knows what kind of employment will be best for you; in what family or neighbourhood you will have most helps, and encouragements to holiness; where you' will be most exposed to temptation, to evil company and to an early corruption. Therefore remember what you have learned in the third chapter of Proverbs, and now above all other times, put in practice," In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." Beseech the all-wise God to go before you in this weighty undertaking, and to lead you to such a master, and to settle you in such a place where you may the most advantageously work out your salvation. Desire also our honoured mother to have a great regard to your soul, and the things that make for its welfare in putting you out. Let it be inquired not only whether such a tradesman be a man of substance and credit, but whether also

he be a man of religion and godliness. Whether he be a lover of good people, a careful frequenter of the church; whether his children he nurtured and educated in the fear of the Lord, whether family prayer be daily offered up in his house, whether he believes that the souls of his servants are committed to his trust, and that he will be answerable for the neglect of them at the judgment seat. It will be sadly hazardous, to venture yourself under the roof of any person, who is not furnished with these prineiples, or is a stranger to these practices. But, if he be quite contrary to all these; a despiser of God and goodness, wholly devoted to carnal pleasure and worldly gain, if he not only omit the religious care of his household, but also set them a wicked and corrupt example, let nothing induce you to enter into his service. A lewd, drinking, swearing, cheating master, will be sure to disregard the sobriety and purity of your behaviour, and very likely to corrupt it. To have his disorderly carriage daily before your eyes, will be as dangerous as to lodge in a plague-house. Therefore let no consideration of profit or advantage, or of any other sort, prevail with you to become apprentice to such an one. If you do, depend upon it you breathe the tainted air, and it is much but you catch the deadly infection. After you are bound to a master, you must be as diligent in doing your duty to him, as you should be of examining into his character before you are bound. As I have given you my advice concerning the latter of these particulars, I fancy you will not take it amiss, if I give you some directions concerning the former. As soon as you are bound, you are at your master's, and not at your own disposal. He has a right to your hands, your strength, and all that you can do. He becomes a sort of parent to you, and though not a natural, yet a civil father. You are also obliged, not only by the laws of your country, and the tenor of your indenture, but by the fifth commandment of God, to pay him all due submission and honour. To do this is a most material part of your duty as a Christian, as well as your undeniable debt as an apprentice. It is required of you by God, in holy Scripture; and you must not once imagine that you do what is pleasing to him, unless you conscientiously perform it. Now that you may know what it is that your master will expect from. you, and what it is that the Lord

hath enjoined you, with regard to him, remember that it consists, first, in reverence to his person; secondly, in obedience to his commands; and thirdly, in faithfulness in his business.

First, In reverence to his person. You must esteem him very highly, for his superiority's sake, and the resemblance he bears to God. For God who made you and has an uncontrolable power over you, has communicated some of that power to your master, so that you are to look upon him as the representative, in some sort, of the Divine Majesty, and invested with some of his authority. Accordingly Saint Paul says, (1 Tim. vi. 1,) you must count him worthy of all honour; all, that is, internal and external; that of the actions and words, as well as that of the heart. It is not enough to maintain a worthy estimation inwardly, by behaving yourself very oblig ingly to him before his face but also by speaking very respectfully of him behind his back. If you should discern failings and infirmities in him, you must by no means divulge them, or make yourself merry with them, much less must you dare to set light by any of his orders. Whatever you have reason to think will grieve, or displease him, will be prejudicial or offensive to him, that you must cautiously forbear.

[Remainder hereafter.]

CATACOMBS OF PARIS.

Some account of these subterranean chambers "full of dead men's bones," may perhaps be interesting to the readers of THE MONITOR. The one subjoined, is given by an American who visited them in the years 1819 and 1820.

I Have again visited the Catacombs. They lie under the southern division of the city, which having furnished stone for the buildings and public edifices, is hollowed out to an alarming extent. When the grave yards of Paris were suppressed in 1778, the bones were carried to these excavations, and arranged with the most admirable order and symmetry, in chambers formed for them by the chisel of the architect. Having provided

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