Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-11-14

teAutS 700, you Pioodby anticipate tn0l the meet
ing will be joyous one on both sides. Blu, have
you never asked yourselves, whether yeu deserve
that II should he so! Have no doubts nor fears
ever crossed your minds. lest these friends and
relatives should have Cause 20 receive you with
less warmth Of affection than Formerly Or are
you fully confident that the pleasure Of merely
seeing you once norc, will be too great TO admit
oil any abatement from the apprehe nsion Of your
having entirely neglected all their parting advice
when you came here; and disregardcd every means
profirred to your acceptance Do you think it
possible that these dear come xions, Especially
your parents, ut you have any, can be I'M
concerned tor your weliare.-so regardless Of
your conduct,-so little anxious about your prn-
cipies, as 70 feel Tor sou the love and alec
ton, should you yourselves be utterly negligent s.
reckless on AL these points. that they would DO.
were you always cndeavouring TO prove your
attachment to them 10y the earnestDess of your
zeal IN pursuit acknowledges; by your excmpla.
~ department in other families than you own; &
" the purity OF your lives and conversation
Dear children, Il 70 utterly im,ossiJie, whatever
you may think Of their iiinai,ess to your faults;
their readiness TO forgive all against which they
can not shut their and the invincible strength
OF their lore. There is that hearen- implanted
P''nctpis in every good Parents heart,-forrning
part o. its very essence, and expiring only with
the last throb Of mortal existence, which keeps
chem tremblingly alive to all that concerns their
chHdren, and 20 INCREASINGLY ANXIOUS for their
welfare and happiness, as to make their characters
and conduct the ai-absorbing object Of their con-
slant so!icitudc. Exactly in proportion then, as
you are careless and culpablc, -Perverse and vi
ctous' Wal be the pain yca will infaict on your
dearest come Kions, and the anguish with which
you wsii wiring their bosoms, As soon a. they he.
come sensible how far you have deviated from the
paths ot rectituce;-if indeed, so great A missor.
tune mas betailcn any OF you. Much sincere Joy
may be teit and expressed when you frst meet;
but be not deceived;it m.st inevitably be of short
duration, 70 be succeeded by yet deeper misery
and woe, should your return to them soon eviuce,
that you have gained nothing by your long alb
sence, but unamiabie tempers, rude manners, bad
habits, and still worse principles. will hope and
believe that no such event will happen to either
OF YOU but still, you may derive no small benefit
from dwelling awhile, upon the danger 10 which
you are all exposed Of realizing so great calan-
NY, should you continue TO indulge in any bad
feelings or practices whatever l know well that
very few things are harder, than TO convince you
oil this danger; for altho real az LIE ITSELF il is
visible only 70 those who are undergoing, or have
already undergone the pangs of seif-condenna-
uoI. Tor suns committed; and have repeatedly ex-
perIenced IN their own cascs, the infrmity OF our
hat,ire.-the instability of all human resolves
ana the insecurity OF all human virtue. These
al Q matters on which few,--l any of you, fear
nave ever bestowed enough serious reflection to
90 aware that place before you nothing hut the
plain, sober. solemn truth, when urge YOU 50 of.
ten 10 be continually on your guard, however
unexcePionable your present feelings and con-
DUCT may beo against the approaches ofimnor ality
ana woe: because the various DISCUSSES which they
assume are always adapted to the situations and
Characters OF their intended victims, who are ne
yer beyond the reach OF temptation until death
itself excludes its assaults. To you who have
oeen brought up by tender, afectionatc paren,s,
OF very near CONNIE xions, with all the solicitude
and anxiety OF parental love;-who have been
nurtured and cherished with unremitted care; and
VINO nave been go supremacy fortunate, as seldom
or never 10 have been exposed to the influence of
very bad example, vice and innorslity will never
appear in any form but to excite eiher disgust or a.
arm They will often steal upon your in notes. as
sou and sweet as the melody OF the Holian Harp;
they will delight your eyes with colours glowing
ami lovely AS those OF the rainbow and will charm
your imagination with eloquence a. seductive as
the syren's song But betc0re,-for heavens sake
oe,cdTe OF their FIRST approaches. Your good
friend conscience,-whichis but another name
Ter the voice Of God, is ever on the watch Tor
your happiness, and will never fail to give YOU
tMeiy warning OF every danger. provided you
VIII always keep your ears open TO her soui-say-
ing intimation. All you will have TO do, is to O.
bey her dictates promptly and implicitly ,-praying
TO God without ceasng, that her heavenly light
may never be withheld. Whenever che says-
;. hear not-see not-taste nct-touch not ,"-shun
the prohibited object, no matter what il NAV be.
as you would fe from the gulf OF destruction. if
1t suddenly yawned at your feet.
Bear yet "A little longer. beseech you, with
my admontory, farewell cautions; since all Of
10 one momentous point-the continual and useful
occupation OF your whole time, and the awful
peril which increasingly hangs-likc the sword of
Damoeles, suspended by single hair,-ove the
heaos OF an who dare to neglect il. As every
hour may be your last, you should ever consider
NE present, as the only one Of which YOU ca,
make sure. In the language OF the ELOQUENT hi.
mop Heber, you may always say with The most
perfect truth, in regard to time:
"one hour remsns,-there Is bu, one,
49, But many shrek, aud many tear,
Through snde.. years the suih lou,, uposn,
W moments LOST aud wasted here"
Most sincerely do wish you n happy meeting
with your relatives and friends; but TO render tb
Pleasures experienced 10y both parties lasting, uo
other couTse OF conduct Oh your part can poss;bly
answer, but such as 1 have recommended: and
hence my great solicituie prevail OH YOU to fo
10" my advico Reflect now, maturely and decp-
y, on all that you may have thought said or don,
since you were last at home, with view t. avoid
ar6or, all that was right. DO this as far az vo,,
are able, and meet the dearest objects of your s
iecuon when, and where you may, ali will be
peace tei'hti; and toifhout-you will have the
,'es' prospects which this world affords of lasting
happiness; ior you will have done all hat duty re-
guires and religion enjoins to secure H. Yo,; viii
nave acted well your parts, so far as YOU had
hedhs una opPortuhitics;-you will have studied
earnestly and sincerely, "to gain the prize of your
nisn calling. = by life of faith and holiness; and
- - ~" WIZ reward you seven-fOId into
your bosoms" DO this, and the sight of home
VIII be as cheering TO your hearts as delightful to
your eyes Your return will be accompanied by
10 doubts or m'sgivings in regard to the kind Of
teeePuon which awaits you; Tor you will be greet.
ed Dy all With unaoyed pleasure The cordia,
OF intimate acquaintance;-the warm
embrace OF early, much attached friends:-tbe
SUI deeper affection OF near and dear relatives
WIN all be your own. Should there be parents
among men, you may realize one OF the sweetest
n all II