Viewing page 42 of 57

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

80   Juvenile Letters. 

Carolina; who writes me, that she has been greatly entertained in perusing them. I was persuaded the book would suit the taste of my aunt, who is really a very pious woman, as well as a woman of sense and learning. I always had a great esteem and respect for her which had been heightened since the receipt of her last letter. And as you are not one of that sort who are too airy to listen to serious subjects, I will do myself the pleasure to quote a few sentences from that letter.

"My dear Niece, as I am so far separated
"from you, that it is only by pen and ink
"I can offer you my sentiments, I will hope
"that your attention may be engaged, by see-
"ing on paper, from the hand of one of your 
"warmest friends, truths of the highest impor-
"tance; which, though you may not find
"new, can never be too deeply engraven on
"your mind.
"You are now in your fifteenth year, and
"much soon act for yourself. Therefore it is
"high time to store your mind with those prin-
"ciples, which must direct your conduct, and "fix

Juvenile Letters.    81

"fix your character. If you desire to live in
"peace and honor, in favour with God and
"man, and to die in the glorious hope of rising
"from the grave to a life of endless happiness; 
"if these things appear worthy of your ambi-
"tion, you must set out in earnest in the pur-
"suit of them. Consider that good and evil
"are now before you; that if you do not 
"heartily choose and love the one, you must
"undoubtedly be the wretched victim of the 
"other.

"Do not therefore think it too soon to turn
"your mind to God; but offer him the first
"fruits of your understanding and affections.
"And be assured, that the more your increase
"in love to him, and delight in his laws, the
"more you will increase in happiness, in excel-
"ence, and honor. In proportion as you im-
"prove in true piety, you will become dear and
"amiable to your fellow creatures, contended
"and peaceful in yourself, and qualified to
"enjoy the best blessings of this life, as well as
"to inherit the glorious promise of immor-
"tality.

That

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-29 14:10:42 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-29 15:04:53