greatly depends on its symmetrical proportions.  A person may be very zealous in some things, and yet quite defective in his Christian character.  And the probability is, that he has no more religion than shows itself in its consistent proportions.  The new energy imparted by the regenerating grace of God may unite itself with the strong points of his character, and produce a very prominent development; while, in regard to those traits of character which are naturally weak, in his constitutional temperament, grace may be scarcely perceptible.  For instance, a person who is naturally bold and resolute, will be remarkable, when converted, for his moral courage; while, perhaps, he may be very deficient in meekness.  And the one who is naturally weak and irresolute, will perhaps be remarkable for the mild virtues, but very deficient in strength and energy of character.  Now, the error lies in cultivating almost exclusively those Christian graces which fall in with our prominent traits of character.  We should rather bend our energies, by the grace of God, chiefly to the development of those points of character which are naturally weak, while we discipline, repress, and bring under control, those which are too prominent.  This will prevent deformity, and develop a uniform consistency of character.

There is, perhaps, a peculiar tendency to this one-sided religion in this age of excitement and activity; and the young convert, whose Christian character is not matured, is peculiarly liable to fall into this error.  The mind becomes absorbed with one object.  The more exclusively this object is contemplated, the more its importance is magnified.  It becomes, to his mind, the main thing.  It is identified with his ideas of religion.  He makes it a test of piety.  Then he is prepared to regard and treat all who do not come up to his views on this point as destitute of true religion; though they may exhibit a consistency of character, in other respects, to which he is a stranger.  This leads to denunciation, alienation of feeling, bitterness, and strife.  But one of God’s commands is as dear to him as another; and we cannot excuse ourselves before him, for disobeying one, on the ground that we practise another.  The perfection of Christian character consists in the harmonious development of the Christian graces.  This is what I understand by the “stature of a perfect man in Christ Jesus;” a man who has no deformity; who is complete in all his members and all his faculties.  That you may attain to this, is the sincere prayer of

Your affectionate Brother.

LETTER XVIII.

Marriage.

“Marriage is honorable in all.”—­HEB. 13:4.

MY DEAR SISTER,