Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-03-08

I long to cast The chains away.
That hold my sou ] slave,
To bur9, these do geon was of clay,
Enfranchise ed from the grave.
Life lies in embryo, never free
Till nature yields her breath
Till Time becomes Rteynuy.
And Man is born in Death.
FoR THE SERIOUS READERS or THE
VIRGiNIA ARGUS.
Letter TO a youns friend ypko had I1'ely made
p46lie 4'0fes'i1ss Selisio".
My DEAR YOUNG -FRIEND.
YOUR Papa
informs me that you went last Sabbath
to the Lords table. 1t is 2 most so.
lemn transaction to approach that Ia
bic for the first time, and by doing so
70 profess. ores self publicly disciple
of Jesus Chris, Trusting thar you
did it sincerely, hat you devor. d your
self without resevsrSto God upon the
terms OF the Sgosp bel, rejoice at the
event, and eosgraallats you most cor
daily uPon it. Your worthy parents
rejoice eyrr you as child given a Sc
cond time to their prayers. The
church receives you with open arms TO
her communion, The angels OF hea.
ven celebrate with rapture the triumph
ct divine grace over your heart. The
Son OF Sod smiles upon you as mem
Der or MS body, a trophy of his re-
deemlng love. And the facher 6 kes
pleasure IN adopting you into the fam
lily of his people.
The suPreme object ofyour pursuit
through Life mus: be TO glorify God in
this world, that you may be prepar.
ed to enjoy himAsorever in the world
to CONES TovgRrily God is to give
him the hsghestPhce in our affections,
to make his law in every thing the rule
Of yo6r conduct, and to shew to all a.
round you, as you may have opportu
nifty, that you value his favor above ali
earthly considerations. The path in
which you are called to walk is that
of piety and virtue; aud the object
OF yoHr hope is eternal life, the gift
OF God through Jesus Christ our Lord
Let ;his high and holy vocation ava
ken every faculty of your soul to
vigorous exercise.
In the glorious work which lies be.
fore you, 60 not expect TO be exempt.
ed from dificulties and opposition.
You are suGounded with enemies on
every side and it is proper that you
should be aPprised of the efforts which
they will make against you. Remem
Der that you have 20 contend with an
invisible adversary, malignant, subtil
aud indeiatigable in the highest degrees.
Satan watches to ensnare you by sue-
costing evil thoughts to your mind,
by taking away from you those which
are good, by exciting into operation the
remains of sniff Mopensitv which he
perceives to he p y pur nature, and by
prompting his iestruments amongst
mankind to hind er, if possible your
progress in religion. The world also
is full Of dangers to the soul. Your
education has indeed been Of. the bsst
kind for which 1 trust you are thank .
ful. The care and example of your
parents, with the blessing of God, have
preserved you from many pernicious
habits which you might otherwise have
contracted. Besides, you are not vet
called TO have much intercourse with
the world. Yet you will find j., even
in your present circumstances, exCrtipg
an influence upon on unfrieudlv 10
the spiritual life. You are not entire.
~ secluded fronAtie terror of its ridi-
cule, the aliurement of its pleasures,
! the infec'iousnes5 of its multiplied le.
vities and follies, which tend 10 dra ~
the soul away from communion with
God. As you advance in age, add in
the cares and Connexions of life. the.
world win, in all probability, produce
more numerous and pressing trial. nj