Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-03-21


out your soul before God without dis.
traction. Let me recommend farther,
that YOU make it a part of your dailv
devotions, expressly TO renew your
covenant with God, solemnly ded;ca-
ting yourself, with all that you pos.
sess, forever tt his service. trust
that you will find this powerful pre-
servative against sin, aud Indictment
to diligence in running the heavenly
race which is set before YOU.
Endeavor to form a habit of stric,
watchfulress over your thoughts, as
well as over your words and actious.
Keep thy heart, says the wisest OF men,
with all diligence, for out of it are
the issues of life. The osiy effec.uaI
way TO prevent sins Of the tongue and
OF action is to preserve the hear,
from secret corruption. Besides,
God requires the homage of the hear,
in the first place, and will accent no o.
tier where that is wanting. To guard
as inst the indulgence of vain and
sinful thoughts, 20 check wrong desires
IN their very rise, are indesd things
of very difficult attainmeut. But they
are of unspeakabie importance 10 eve
ry Christian. Aud as they are so
strongly inculcated in scripture, you
may conclude that, by the grace Of
God crowning your earnest and per-
severing efforts, they may be in some
good measure attained. To watch
and oppose the beginnings OF sin with
IN Us, and to cherish every good mo.
ton of the Holy Spirit exciting us to
duty, Is great part of that wisdom
which comes from above-which is
pure, Peaceable, gentle, easy to be in
treated, full of mercy and good fruits,
WITHOUT Partiality and without hypo-
crisy.
Beware ofunnecessary intimacy and
association with those who are strap.
gers to religion. You canno- indeed
avoid all intercourse with the irreligi-
GUS; for then you must needs go out
of the world. Moreover, il is neces-
safy that the Christian should go some
tlmes, with prudent caution, iato the
company Of the uncovered, from the
motive of aiming to do them good.
But when there is no necessity of cir
cumstances, no design nor reasonable
prospect of doing good, TO ningle free.
ly with people who are strangers TO the
fear of God must be most dangerous
practice. Evil communication natu-
rally corrnpts good manners. While
We are in the course of our duty, we
may hope for divine protection, what.
ever temptations may assault us. But
it we voluntarily lay aside our guard.
and run un5idden into tenn ptation of a.
ny kind, we may assuredly expect to
suffer for it. Instead then of vain.
thoughtiess Company and frivolous
conversation, which abound so much
IN the world, choose the people Of God
for your associates and your friends.
You are connected with them by the
most endearing ties; BY the common
reception OF redeeming mercy, and the
common hope OF that glory which Ie-
sus Christ reserves for all his faithful
disciples in his heavenly kingdom.
Esteem them, therefore, as the excel,
lent OF the earth, in whom is all your
delight.
May these lines be made useful to
your spiritual interests. Nav Coo AL
mighty bless you with all the blessings
OF the new covenant; preserve you
from all the snares ofsin, and keep you
by has power through faith unto saliva
uon; and when you shall have done
and borne all his will concerning you
here below, mny he receive you 70 that
heaven where all is perfect holiness
and Joy forever. With this prayer, /
remain
Your aHectionate friend,