Mrs. Howard appropriate to herself the character and situation of the foolish virgins, bearing the lamp of profession, but without oil, and enveloped in darkness. Her distress arising from the discovery of present destitution and past neglect, was aggravated by the remembrance of instances, when discrediting the experience of the truly pious, and censuring their deviations from her standard of de

corum, she disturbed their peace and made them stumbling-blocks to others. Stung with remorse, she bewailed her folly; confessed her sins; and humbly sought the pardoning grace of God. Nor did she seek in vain; mercy was extended; and those holy emotions which she had before censured as the effects of enthusiasm, now gave life to her profession, and love to her sense of propriety.

No. V.

PARSIMONY.

IN that assembly of Christians where a glow of hallowed feeling pervades each breast, and the bonds of brotherly affection unite each heart, is one observed, whose countenance beams not forth with holy joy, and whose heart dilates not with generous sympathy. Like Gideon's fleece, he alone is exempt from the dew of heavenly influence; praise ascends not from his lips; the tear of gratitude falls not from his eye; and the power of saving grace reaches not his heart. Yet he surpasses all in volubility of speech on the articles of his faith and the peculiar tenets of his creed. Loudly he boasts of his long profession in the church; with pertinacity he maintains his prerogative as an elder; and superciliously

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does he look upon "those of yesterday.” To doubt his charity would ensure his anathema, and to suspect his liberality would be unpardonable; although the representation of parsimony meets with the universal recognition, "thou art the man!" When the enterprising spirit of benevolence opens fresh scenes for the exercise of mercy, his gathering frown affrights the timid, and repels the bold; every proposed measure he decries as imprudent; the extended sphere of usefulness he accounts a wild, speculative project; and the ardency of Christian love, he condemns to be "zeal without knowledge." To objects of distress who petition his relief, he pleads the frequency of imposture; relates the oft-repeated tale of having been once deceived; and recommends industry as an antidote to all the ills of life. His sentiments perfectly coincide with the noble designs of those Institutions which have for their object the conversion of the world; he

longs to see idolatry and heathenism bow to Christianity, and daily does he pray, "thy kingdom come!" but dubious thoughts arise in his mind, that the funds of these Institutions are misapplied; he cannot positively ascertain whether the benefits intended be ever realised, and therefore he prefers withholding his support. His contributions for the ministration of the Word exceed in ratio his other gifts; and yet such is the scantiness of this offering, that the widow's two mites outweigh its value. In the prosperity of Zion he feels no interest, in the conversion of the world he takes no share, and in the consolations of the Gospel he does not participate.

He stands, a beacon to warn the church, and a mark for the satire of the world.

No. VI.

FORTITUDE.

"Virtues are like shrubs, which yield their sweets in different manners according to the circumstances which surround them; and while generosity of soul scatters its fragrance like the honeysuckle, and delights the senses of many occasional passengers, who feel the pleasure, and half wonder how the breeze has blown it from so far, the more sullen, but not less valuable myrtle, waits like fortitude to discover its excellence, till the hand arrives that will crush it, and force out that perfume, whose durability well compensates the difficulty of production."

YOUTH is the season of expectation. It is in youth that the feelings are warm and the fancy fresh, and that there has been no blight to chill the one, or to wither the other. It is in youth that the world seems so fair, and our fellowcreatures so kind, that we charge with