[For the Monitor.] AN INVITATION TO YOUTH TO JOIN THE BIBLE CLASS. COME, blooming youth of Freedom's land, Sheds radiance o'er the darken'd soul, Would guide you to the realms above. HENRIETTA. TO CORRESPONDENTS AND PATRONS. M. K. and some pieces without a signature have been received. We regret that in our absence in April, the printer should be so partial to one piece as to print it a second time. Some excellent pieces of original poetry from the pen of P-y, were unfortunately con sumed last autumn when the Monitor office was burned. We trust our highly valued correspondent, their author, will replace our loss if he retained copies, as we sincerely hope he did. MUCH has been said and written concerning the important season of youth. This period of life is generally considered highly valuable in relation to future prosperity and usefulness. To one who is to devote his life to literary pursuits, this season is precious. Here his faculties begin to be developed-here his intellectual character begins to assume its complexion-and here those habits of mind which will distinguish him as an individual, are beginning to form. It is also an interesting season to one who is destined to a more active employment. If he ever acquire a thorough and systematic acquaintance with his business, this acquaintance must be commenced in youth. But this period of life acquires an increased degree of interest when considered in reference to the formation of the moral character. Although no discipline can change the moral taste, still much may be done preparatory to it; and much which will render the person a more proper object of esteem, and more worthy of confidence. The passions are now ardent, the heart susceptible, and the mind inquisitive. Principles of action are easily adopted, and principles of faith easily embraced. That thorough investigation which is the characteristic of maturer years, is not uncommonly a stranger to youth. The force of example is often adequate to allure the unwary youth into a course, which issues in moral death. Much is dependent upon the character and conduct of those with whom are entrusted the important interests of the young. Their example, their counsel, and their practice, exert a powerful influence upon one at this period of life. The murderer, who expires upon the scaffold of justice, doubtless began his ruinous course when young. He first thought crime and guilt to be matters of no moment; and thus he advanced in his career of impiety, until he became unworthy of life. There are many eminent men who are able to recollect what particular incidents and circumstances that occurred in their youthful days, combined to give a turn to their thoughts and a complexion to their character. A regard for the duties and institutions of religion ought early to be imprinted upon the mind. Sentiments of virtue and benevolence should always be cherished in the youthful breast. If the mind of the young is taught to esteem the difference between virtue and vice of little or no consequence, the practice and course of life in succeeding years, will fully disclose the pernicious effects of embracing such a sentiment. Let the youth who desires to gain the approbation of the virtuous, who desires to possess a source of solid enjoyment in future life, who desires to promote the welfare of man, and obtain "a crown of glory that fadeth not away," embrace the present season to mould his temper and form his character according to the unerring standard of truth, and the requirements of the Gospel. T. P. J. [For the Monitor.] INSTINCT. INSTINCT is a principle of action which operates prior to instruction and independent of experience. Not only in the animal creation, over which man exercises dominion, but in the human race also, is this principle found to exist. The actions of every individual display some of its operations. It appears in the infant, and indeed exercises a more extensive sway over its actions than it does over the conduct of those of maturer years. Its power is felt in youth-its influence is not lost in manhood-nor will it cease to operate while the mind animates our material frame. How With but little observation, we shall not fail to discover some of the important purposes which it answers. can the new born infant receive its first nourishment? Neither instructed by its nurse nor influenced by habit, it obtains its food with the utmost ease and readiness. This is the power of instinct. How can we so readily and almost unintentionally close the eyelid, when that tender organ is in danger? It is by instinct. And there are numerous instances, which are continually occurring, that illustrate the principle of instinct in a manner both curious and convincing. T. P. J, ESSAY,....NO. VII. THE LORD'S PRAYER. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father, which art in Heaven; hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. MAN needs precept upon precept, and line upon line, respecting the duties of religion. Not only must he be told in general terms, that men ought to pray every where lifting up holy hands; but he needs particular directions how to pray aright. Thanks be to God, that there is a throne of grace, where sinners may have audience through a Mediator. Thanks be to God, that our Divine Teacher has given us specific instructions respecting the duty of prayer. Let us devoutly attend to those he has given us. The word "After this manner therefore pray ye.' "therefore" refers to previous directions given by Christ to his disciples. In them he had just forbidden the vain repetitions in prayer which characterized the prayers of the Jews in those days. They often vociferated the same exclamations again and again. While their prayers were tedious for their length, they were limited to but a few ideas. In the Lord's prayer an opposite course is both enjoined and exemplified. Thus men are taught both by precept and example to have their prayers short, but comprehensive. Conciseness in prayer, is, on another occasion, recommended by the consideration that we are not heard for our much speaking. Since our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask, the object of prayer is never to acquaint him with our necessities or desires; but to arouse the dormant energies of our own minds, to elevate the languid affections of our hearts, and to obey divine precepts. Those prayers therefore best answer the design of prayer which are adapted to excite and increase devout affections in the soul. Where the ideas are most important and the spirit most fervent, there is least danger of prayer's being protracted to an unprofitable length. Besides, "after this manner pray ye," teaches that, on the one hand set forms of prayer are not sinful, and on the other hand, that they are not commanded. On this subject many prejudices have existed. Some appear to feel that prayer cannot be offered aright to God, if a precomposed form is used. Such feelings are doubtless wrong. For where the words used are adapted to the circumstances under which the prayer is offered, and the hearts of the worshippers ascend in the expressed desires, Jehovah will accept them. Another Evangelist introduces the Lord's prayer with this language: "When ye pray say our Father," &c. Though we believe this was not designed to require a repetition of that prayer, whenever prayer is offered, much less to confine us exclusively to those words, it does prove that forms of prayer are not to be indiscriminately condemned. At the commencement of social worship in families and in schools, it may sometimes be both suitable and profitable for precomposed forms to be used, though they ought not to be continued when the gifts and the confidence of those whose duty it is to lead, render them no longer necessary. Some advantages attend forms of prayer, for public worship, though they are perhaps more than counterbalanced by disadvantages almost necessarily connected with them. And we have Christ's example for using in private prayer the same words more than once or twice. |