unsuccored efforts of his best purposes, to tear himself away from the absorbing abyss. His case is one of frightful jeopardy. The slightest downward impulse, or the withdrawment of a single remaining hold on his moral sensibilities, may be enough to place him beyond hope. But he yet has some vestiges of an unseared conscience. He yet feels the ties of natural affection. Approach him gently. Tell him not the whole story of his shame at once. Överwhelm him not with the sudden announcement of his lost reputation. Tell him rather, what he may be, than what he has become. Point out the way to character, to usefulness, to virtue and to God. You may advert to the half concealed shame and anguish which his father feels on his account. You may speak of paternal hopes so often blasted, as to be nearly succeeded by utter despair. You may remind him of the silent tears and prayers of a mother, whose affections still cluster around the son of her love, though scarcely a feature of earlier loveliness remains. He may be pointed to the downcast gaze and the burning cheek of her, who was but lately the beloved sister of his childhood, and is now no less lovely in her tears over his almost completed ruin. Above all, you may not forget to speak to him of ONE, more deserving regard than father, mother, or sister, who came into the world to save sinners. Speak to him of a Saviour's love, a Saviour's power, a Saviour's grace, a Saviour's willingness to pardon, to purify, and eternally save him. SPEAK often to that young MAN of a father, a mother, a sister, a Saviour's readiness to receive him to their embrace, the moment he will forsake his pernicious ways, and penitently return to virtue and piety. SPEAK often TO THAT YOUNG MAN on these subjects. There is joy in heaven over one such who truly repents. And forget not that he, who is the means of converting the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death.

2. SPEAK TO THAT YOUNG MAN whom you often behold either restless or trifling in the house of God. His parents and connexions delight in the spiritual services of the sanctuary. They live on the faithful ministration of divine truth. From early childhood he has been made familiar with the solemnities, and been taught the duties of public worship. He knows that holiness becomes God's house forever. Until he had nearly reached the stature of manhood, he was markedly attentive to the exterior decencies and proprieties of the consecrated place. So strongly was his mind affected by the example and instruction of parental faithfulness, and so just were his views of the demeanor becoming the place where God's name is recorded, his worship observed, and his truth preached, that he could not notice in any of the assembled worshipers without surprise and concern, the drowse of listlessness, the smile of levity, or the motion of irksomeness. But now, how altered. What has wrought the change in him? He still understands and observes the decencies of life, everywhere else. He would not manifest unequivocal tokens of uneasiness, when you are speaking to him in private on a subject in which you evince a feeling of interest, and which he knows you consider deeply interesting to him. Yet in the house of God, not even the restraints of early education, and the still cherished sentiments of good breeding, prevent his evincing most decided marks of restlessness, when the preacher in sober earnestness and heartfelt concern, is speaking to him on subjects of everlasting moment to every child of Adam. He can send abroad a careless gaze after some object of diversion, in the very place where the scenes of heaven and hell, are continually brought to view. He can wear the smile of scorn and contempt, when all that is terrific in the denunciations, and all that is cheering in the promises of Jehovah, is proclaimed to the guilty and perishing children of men. In him you may see how the truth preached, reveals the terrible power of the natural

heart's depravity. But yet this same truth, which gives such a fearful developement to the innate corruption of his heart, is the only weapon by which it can be subdued and removed. SPEAK, then, dear brethren, TO THAT YOUNG MAN. He will not utterly disregard you. He will not trifle when you speak to him of eternal solemnities. He will not scornfully smile, when you tell him of God's everlasting anger against the ungodly. But should be even do all this, he will not withdraw from your presence, and leave you while earnestly inviting him to come to the Saviour.

3. SPEAK TO THAT YOUNG MAN, who is making the supposed difficulty of reconciling certain doctrines of the gospel with the well known character of man and the properties of the human mind, an apology for neglecting the salvation of his own soul. Such difficulty is only a supposed one. To a mind rightly disposed, no such difficulty is presented. A mind that loves and relishes the grand peculiarities of the gospel, perceives a perfect and delightful harmony between its doctrines and provisions, and the condition and character of man. And were it otherwise, did such a difficulty actually exist, it could furnish no adequate reason for a man's neglecting the salvation of his soul. The salvation of his soul would be no less important, and no less attainable. Nor does THAT YOUNG MAN, who is so ready to suggest this difficulty, seriously believe it presents any hinderance to the success of his efforts to gain an inheritance among the saved. He does not in his heart consider such an apology in any other light, than in that of a specious attempt to evade the force of urgent calls to duty. He knows in his own soul that it is only a vain effort of his wicked heart, to gain a temporary respite from the pressure of the most awful truths. What, if he cannot comprehend the deep things of God? He knows that he is a sinner, that Christ died to save such, and that all are saved by him who penitently confide in his atoning merits for pardon and acceptance with God.

Hasten to SPEAK TO THAT YOUNG MAN. He is in imminent danger. He is resisting the truth by miserable shifts to evade its stern demands. He is attempting to turn aside the sword of the Spirit. SPEAK TO HIM and

press the simple truth upon his heart and conscience. Be not afraid of the subtilty of his arguments. He has no confidence in them himself, why should you fear them? Press the naked truth. It will prove mighty through God to the demolition of his seemingly strong hold. SPEAK THE TRUTH in love to THAT YOUNG MAN, and he may love and bless you for it forever. He feels your power every time you thus SPEAK to him. Every time you admonish him of his danger, he feels the utter rottenness of his firmest foundations. He feels every thing giving way—every thing sinking on which he rests.

4. SPEAK TO THAT YOUNG MAN who has been strongly affected with a view of his condition as a lost sinner, but is now again relapsing into a state of unconcern. You saw him formerly, it may be but recently, bowed down greatly under the oppressive consciousness of his sins. You heard from him the agonizing interrogatory, What must I do to be saved? You heard him in the anguish of his spirit declare himself the greatest sinner this side of hell, and richly deserving a place there. You remember how unhesitatingly he acknowledged, that God would be entirely just to leave him to perish eternally. Have you forgotten his solicitude for an interest in the prayers of the people of God, and how constantly he sought the place of social prayer? Behold him now. His fears, his deep anxiety, his violent emotions have left him. He evinces no concern for his soul's salvation. He comes, no longer to ask the way of life. You rarely see him in the place of social pray

er.

He

He comes indeed, on the Sabbath to the house of God; but he has no keen sensibilities to the solemn import of the services. He shuns your presence. avoids giving you an opportunity to speak to him concerning his present feelings and desires. But though

he seeks to escape from every person who would be likely to bring him once more solemnly to commune with himself-though he would avoid a recurrence of his conviction of danger; yet give him not up. RUN, SPEAK TO THAT unhappy young man. A word in season, spoken in love, and solemn earnestness may save his soul. Pursue him with your prayers, and your entreaties. SPEAK TO HIM under the impression, that if he be not speedily brought to feel his condition, it must prove a hopeless one. God's Spirit may second your believing efforts, if now made; and THAT YOUNg man become a new creature in Christ Jesus. If not soon made, the grieved and insulted Spirit may never more strive with him.

5. SPEAK TO THAT YOUNG MAN whom you lately saw endeavor to conceal the unbidden tear that started from his eye as he listened to the solemn ministrations of the sanctuary. The truth has found its way to his heart. Through its instrumentality the Spirit has begun to convince him of sin. He feels himself guilty and helpless. He would seek some one to guide his inquiries after salvation. But his family are strangers to experimental piety. His associates are the gay and the thoughtless. He fears to encounter the scoffs and ridicule which a knowledge of his religious concern would lead them to heap upon him. Perhaps he has not a single acquaintance who is a friend of Christ. What shall he do? Do you expect he will come to you with the story of his inward pangs? But he may not know that you are a professed follower of Christ. Or, if he knows that, he does not know that you are one of those christians who feel interested for awakened sinners. Wait not for him to seek you. That half-hidden tear speaks to all that is christian in your heart. Invited by that, go, SPEAK TO THAT YOUNG MAN. It will send a gleam of light into his dark mind. Speak to him of the Redeemer, and who can tell, but that the first announcement of his. grace and sufficiency, will be met by his faith and repen