vermilion, where unassisted eyes behold nothing but provocatives of their abhorrence. This instrument will show them the brightest varnish, and the most curious carving, even in the minutest scraps of existence. Far more surprising than the magic feats of the most dexterous juggler, it will treat their sight, not with delusive, but with real wonders. A huge elephant shall stalk where a puny mite was wont to crawl. Blood shall bound from the beating heart, and eyes sparkle with a lively lustre-limbs shall play the most sprightly motions, or stand composed in the most graceful attitudes-where nothing ordinarily appeared, but a confused speck of animated matter. A tincture of philosophy will be the cosmetic of nature, will render all her scenes lovely, and all her apartments a theatre of diversion; diversions infinitely superior to those dangerous delights which are so apt to inveigle the affections, and debauch the minds of young people. When philosophy lends her optics, an unclouded morning, beautiful with the rising sun-a clear night, brilliant with innumerable stars, will be a more pleasing spectacle than the gaudiest illuminations of the assembly-room. The melody of birds, and the murmur of fountains, the humming insect, and the sighing gale, will be a higher gratification than the finest airs of an opera. A field covered with corn, or a meadow besprinkled with daisies, a marsh planted with osiers, or a mountain shaded with oaks, will yield a far more agreeable prospect than the most pompous scenes that decorate the stage. Should clouds overcast the heavens, or winter disrobe the flowers, an inquiry into the causes of these grand vicissitudes will more than compensate the transitory loss. A discovery of the divine wisdom and divine goodness, in these seemingly disastrous changes, will impart gaiety to the most gloomy sky, and make the most unornamented seasons smile.

It is for want of such truly elegant and satisfactory amusements, that so many ladies of the first distinc

tion and finest genius have no proper employ for their delicate capacities, but lose their happiness in flights of caprice or fits of the vapour; lose their time in the most insipid chat, or the most whimsical vagaries; while thought is a burden, and reflection is a drudgery, solitude fills them with horror, and a serious discourse makes them melancholy.

Above all, Camillus is most earnestly desirous to have his tender charge grounded in the principles, and actuated with the spirit of Christianity. No scheme, he is thoroughly persuaded, was ever so wisely calculated to sweeten their tempers, to exalt their affections, and form them to felicity either in this world or another. It is therefore his daily endeavour, by the most easy and endearing methods of instruction, to fill their minds with the knowledge of those heavenly doctrines, and win their hearts to the love of that invaluable book in which they are delineated. He longs to have a sense of God Almighty's goodness impressed on their souls. From this source, under the influences of the sanctifying Spirit, he : would derive all the graces and all the duties of godliness. With this view he speaks of the divine Majesty not only as supereminently great, but as most transcendently possessed of every delightful, every charming excellence. He represents all the comforts they enjoy, and every blessing they receive, as the gifts of his bountiful hand, and as an earnest of unspeakably richer favours. He often, often reminds them, that whatever their heavenly Father commands, forbids, inflicts, proceeds from his overflowing kindness, and is intended for their eternal good, if, by these expedients, he may awaken in their minds an habitual gratitude to their everlasting Benefactor. The actings of which noble principle are not only fruitful in every good work, but productive of the truest satisfaction; somewhat like the fragrant steams of consecrated incense, which, while they honoured the great object of worship, regaled with their pleasing perfumes the devout worshipper.

Nothing is more displeasing to Camillus than the fond flatteries which their injudicious admirers bestow on their shape and their complexion, the gracefulness of their carriage, and the vivacity of their wit. He would fain make them sensible, that these embellishments are of the lowest value and most fading nature; that, if they render their possessors vain and self-conceited, they are far greater blemishes than a hump on the back, a wen on the neck, or stuttering in the speech. He would have them thoroughly convinced, that notwithstanding all their silks, diamonds, and other marks of their superior circumstances, they are ignorant, guilty, impotent creatures; blind to truths of the last importance, deserving the vengeance of eternal fire, and unable of themselves to think a good thought; that from such convictions they may perceive their absolute need of a Saviour, a Saviour in all his offices; as a Prophet to teach them heavenly wisdom; as a Priest to atone for all their many, many sins; as a King to subdue their iniquities, write his laws in their hearts, and make them, in all their conversation, holy.

In short, the point he chiefly labours is, to work in their hearts a deep, an abiding sense, that God is their supreme, their only good; that the blessed Jesus is the rock of their hopes, and the fountain of their salvation; that all their dependence for acquiring the beauties of holiness, and tasting the joys of the sublimest virtue, is to be placed on the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. Amidst all these efforts of his own, he never forgets, never fails to plead that precious promise of the unchangeable Jehovah, “ I will pour out my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thy offspring; and they shall grow up," in knowledge and in grace, " as willows by the watercourses, "Isaiah xliv. 3, 4.

A lady of brilliant parts, but no very extraordinary piety, told Camillus, that he would spoil the pretty dears, would extinguish that decent pride, and

fondness for pleasure, which are shining qualifications in an accomplished young lady, which give her an elevation of sentiment, and a delicacy of taste greatly superior to the ignoble vulgar. To whom he replied, "Far from extirpating their passions, I only attempt to turn them into a right channel, and direct them to the worthiest objects. Willing I am that they should have a decent ambition, an ambition not to catch the giddy coxcomb's eye, or be the hackneyed toast of rakes, but to please their parents, to make a husband happy, and to promote the glory of God. They may entertain a fondness for pleasure, but such pleasure as will ennoble their souls, afford them substantial satisfaction, and prepare them for the fruition of immortal bliss. Let them be covetous also, if you please, madam, but covetous of redeeming their time, and of gaining intellectual improvement; covetous of those riches which no moth can corrupt, nor thief steal-which neither time nor death destroy."

In all these instances of parental solicitude, his beloved Amelia takes her constant, her willing share; contributes her advice in every plan that is concerted, and her hearty concurrence in every expedient that is executed; every expedient for polishing the human jewel,* and making their manners as faultless as their forms. May the God of infinite goodness, the sacred source of all perfection, prosper their endeavours! that, as the young ladies are adorned in their persons with native beauty, they may be enriched in their understandings with refined knowledge, and dignified in their souls with the spirit of the blessed Jesus. Then, surely, more amiable objects the eye of man cannot behold; more desirable partners the heart of man cannot wish.

* Delightful task! to rear the tender thought,
To teach the young idea how to shoot,

And pour the fresh instruction o'er the mind.-Thomson.

PREFACE

ΤΟ

BURNHAM'S PIOUS MEMORIALS.

RELIGION, or an affectionate and firm connexion of the soul with God, is the highest improvement of the human mind, and the brightest ornament of the rational nature. It is the most indissoluble bond of civil society, and the only foundation of happiness to every individual person.

The gospel, by which we have access to the King immortal, invisible, through the merits of Jesus Christ; by which we are conformed to his amiable and holy image, through the operations of the blessed Spirit-the gospel is, of all other religions, most exquisitely adapted to compass those desirable ends.

This point hath often been demonstrated with all the strength of argument, and illustrated by every decoration of eloquence. In the following sheets we are presented with a new proof of the same important truth, deduced from a topic level to every capacity, and from a scene in which all must, sooner or later, be personally concerned.

Nothing strikes the mind of a wise and attentive observer so forcibly as fact; nothing hath so strong a tendency to convince the judgment, and influence the conduct. In the collection before us we have a series of indubitable and interesting facts. Here are some of the most renowned, many of the most worthy persons, after a life of exemplary devotion and exalted virtue, bearing their dying testimony to the excellency of the gospel and the pleasures of religion-persons from different countries, of different denominations, and flourishing in distant periods of