38 THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
straight-jacket, instead of taking off the heavy 
burdens; to make long faces, instead of joyful 
countenances; and to key the voice to a per¬ 
petual minor, rather than tune it to anthems 
of holy delight. It has been truly sung that 
‘ Religion never was designed 
To make our pleasures less.’ 
The Christian ought always so to live as to 
give emphatic attestation to this truthful sen¬ 
timent. We can see in the case of these young 
men a strong inducement to try and clothe the 
principles and duties of Religion so as to prove 
that all ‘ her ways are ways of pleasantness, and 
all her paths are peace.’ 
“ Our own family circle will furnish no inapt 
instance of the power of proper instruction and 
the exhibition of a cheerful piety. Instructed 
by the word of God, we have endeavored to 
teach that religion is designed and adapted to 
make its subjects more cheerful and happy, and 
to live so that our lives should prove the doc¬ 
trine true. That you have all been brought to 
an experimental trust in the blessed Saviour is 
the happy consummation sought. 
“ But we have, perhaps, discussed this ques- 
