Arthur Ridley had been passionately fond of the amusement of rowing; but he had given it up, partly because the time which it occupied interfered with reading for his degree, and partly because his mind, being set on deeper thoughts, felt a natural disrelish for scenes which but too much contrasted with them.

"How difficult it is," said he, " to reconcile the solemn business of life with the light amusements of the world! How widely separate, nay, how incompatible do they seem! What can be in itself more innocent than the manly exercise of these light-hearted friends of mine? Yet, alas! how frequently is it accompanied by vice; how often do the exuberant spirits of those engaged in it (and it is the same in other sports and exercises) burst forth in the light jest or the thoughtless oath, indicating-to say the least-ungodliness. How utterly unprepared are they if suddenly called, to render up their souls to God. Why should this be so? Why should vice and ungodliness thus cling to us, and contaminate our very recreations and amusements?

HERBERT.

Your question has been often asked

66

'Why should we fear youth's draught of joy,
If pure, would sparkle less ?

Why should the cup the sooner cloy

Which God hath deigned to bless ?"

There is no reason to be assigned, except the delusion which Satan exercises over the mind, and the degrading bondage in which he holds it. And this arises in a great measure from ignorance of those purer joys and holier feelings which God affords to those who seek Him. But it has not always been so, and I trust will not always continue. I do not despair of seeing the time when a systematic reverence for religion shall form the basis of society amongst young

men.

RIDLEY.

Meanwhile, I fear it is impossible for one whose thoughts are fixed on higher things to mingle with those who disregard them.

HERBERT.

The topic is a difficult one. If you had been likely to remain longer at Oxford, I do not think that I should have counselled you to withdraw from the society of your equals,-at least not without an attempt to amend it. You are a leading man amongst them; you have many devoted friends; all regard you with esteem, and

are anxious for your countenance. Such a man as you might do infinite good, by setting his face against those violations of decency and morality which are too common in the society of young men and this would be a step at least to a better system. At any rate I would have had you make the attempt; you might have been subject to ridicule and opposition, but I think your force of character would have carried you through it. No matter if it did not-no matter, I mean, so far as you yourself are concerned, if your example failed to work the good which you hoped; you would be but following your Master's footsteps.

RIDLEY.

If I had been fortunate enough to have sooner enjoyed your counsel and friendship, I might, perhaps, have made some attempt like that which you have described. But now I must look forward to other scenes; humbly hoping that God will pardon my past neglect, and guide my steps in future more directly in his paths.

ᎻᎬᎡᏴᎬᎡᎢ,

I should not have dwelt on what you might have done, but that it presents a perfect illus

man may

tration of what you may do, and I trust will do, in whatever station of life you are placed. Every do great good by strict adherence to God's laws: perhaps none more so than yourself. You go into the world with many advantages of birth, connexion, and education; and, what is not so commonly met with as the others, an unusual degree of popular and available talent. The influence, and power of doing good which you may attain, is, perhaps, greater than if you had been born to a larger inheritance. Wealth brings with it the temptation to indolence which few can resist. "It is but a glittering kind of slavery to be the heir of a great family." A youth of exertion, such as yours must be, will, if wisely spent, prepare you for a manhood of usefulness. This I say, not to flatter you, but rather to remind you of the deep responsibility which devolves on one possessed of such advantages. God will look for much service to be rendered by you to His Church. He has many faithful servants, many "hidden saints," whose prayers, we believe, avert His wrath; but what the age seems most to demand, is the holy zeal of practical activity, which shall not be ashamed to avow itself. We want men of nerve and talent, who shall declare themselves servants of

the cross; men who shall no longer be satisfied with remaining on the defensive, but shall be ready to advance to the attack, and stand boldly forward as the sworn opponents of the low, selfish, ungodly spirit of the times. Such a person I believe it is in your power to be—not all at once-but when you arrive at maturer years. Meanwhile lay up in your heart what God demands of you, and begin from this moment to train yourself up to His service. You owe Him much. He has mercifully brought you to a knowledge of His truth, and has weaned you from folly, just at that critical age when the character assumes a fixedness, from which afterwards it is not easily removed. The religious principles, which you now possess, will preserve you from the danger of profligate sin, and from the mean vanities of the world. Only pray, and shun temptation, and you are safe. One thing let me recommend you as an invariable rule; that is, to reject the society of the vicious, shun the agreeable infidel, and the accomplished profligate. You will be surrounded with friends willing to cultivate your acquaintance; but lay it down, as a fixed rule, that no brilliancy of connexion, no allurement of rank or fashion, no agreeableness, no wit nor flattery, shall tempt