We find the constitution of mind to be such, that every being is intimately connected with other beings, so that no one can act independently for his own wishes and interests, without invading the happiness of others.

We find also that the interests and wishes of one mind constantly clash with those of another, so that one mind is continually under the necessity either of giving up its own plans and desires, or of securing them by demanding such a sacrifice from others. Children have to give up to each other in the nursery-pupils in the school room-men of business in the mart of competition-aspirants for fame-combatants for power; even the pursuit of benevolent enterprises involves clashing plans and opposing views of what is right and best.

In a family on earth, we find that strong affection towards parents who are wise and good, and the submission of the will of the children to them, is the sure and only method of securing harmony, love, and unity of action; nor can we, when clashing interests meet, devise any other method of safety but to secure some controling mind, that all the rest shall so love or fear as to yield to its superior wisdom and power.

From all then, that we know of mind and its relations, by observation and experience, we should say that in the great universe of mind, the most rational and probable method of securing harmony and benevolent feelings and actions, would be to have all minds so united to the great Creator and

Father of all, as that conformity to his wishes shall be the leading desire of all; while on his part, he shall disclose all those rules of feeling and action which his perfect wisdom and benevolence, perceives to be for the best interests of the whole. We all know how easy, how delightful it is to give up our wishes and plans to an object of endeared affection. It often happens here on earth, that minds are so closely united in affection, that it is pleasanter to secure the wishes of the being loved than to accomplish our own.

If it were possible, then, to inspire such affection in all dependent minds for the Creator, that his will would be the will of all, and the desire to please Him, the ruling passion of all minds, every occasion for clashing, and collision, would cease, and the whole universe would be united in harmony of feeling and action.

Look, now, into the Bible and see what is the character of those who are described as the heirs of heaven. Look at the characters of Abraham, David, Peter, John, and Paul. Read their writings and tell me what appears to be their ruling passion, their first interest, their controling purpose. We do not find that their constitutional traits were changed. We do not find that their intellectual views of right and wrong were all strictly correct, for we find cases in which they strongly differed in opinion. We do not find that they were free from great faults, We do not find they were saved because they attained a certain strength of principle, in a certain number of particulars, in performing moral duties,

Look, then, at the instructions of our Savior. "No man can serve two masters"-"Ye cannot serve God and Mammon"-" Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness"-"He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me." I will not go into farther particulars. I only ask you to examine for yourself, and see if you cannot decide to your own satisfaction, that when a man gives up pursuing the enjoyments of this world as his chief good, and devotes his heart to the love and service of God, that he will be saved through the efficacy of the atoning sacrifice of Christ, so that with imperfect obedience he can be accepted, and made happy forever.

I leave the matter here to your own investigation and reflection.

Your friend, &c.

MY DEAR SIR,

LETTER X.

I thank you for the candid acknowledgment that the views I present seem more rational and consistent than you expected, and I feel still more gratified by the indication your letter affords that you have bestowed so much serious attention on the subject, and have so faithfully examined the "only sure word of testimony" to learn for yourself what it teaches.

Whatever confidence I may feel in the correctness of my own views, my hope of securing similar views on your part, and the happy results which flow from them, rests not so much on my ability to advocate and explain, as on the light and power of truth which the Bible contains, and which a daily, candid and prayerful study of it will secure. This is what I would urge upon you as reasonable, consistent, dignified, and a most solemn obligation. For what is more reasonable than that such erring and dependent beings as we are, should seek to know whether we have a guide from our Maker and what

its

instructions are.

What is more consistent

with the character of an intelligent and enlightened intelleet? What is more dignified or more obligatory? And while, as creatures of a day, we are forming our characters and deciding our interests for eternity, what more appropriate, rational, and sacred a duty than to supplicate the aid and guidance of the Father of our spirits, who is the source of light and truth, and who promises to guide into all truth those that thus seek his aid.

I will now attempt, as you request, to give you my views on the points you present as matters of difficulty.

In regard to the first, the very great variety of requisitions you find in the Bible as terms of salvation, and many of them diverse in their character. You say you took the New Testament and began with the teachings of the Savior, and found it to consist of precepts inculcating meekness, mercy, pureness, forgiveness to enemies, chastity, unostentatious alms-giving, prayer, and most of the important and difficult moral duties toward our fellow men, and concluding with the declaration that he that heareth and doeth these things shall be saved, and that he that doeth them not shall perish. You then read of the day of judgment, and find men acquitted or condemned for their good or evil actions.

You find that we are in many passages expressly told we shall be judged, at the last day, for our words and deeds. Then, again, we are told that to see the kingdom of heaven we "must be born