OF THE FOREST, 19

familiarly associated with these young peo-
ple, to press upon them the importance of
spiritual things, and, with this view, directed
them often to raise up their hearts to God
when employed in their most ordinary ac-
tions. To this piece of excellent advice I
added, as might be expected, certain admoni-
tions respecting forms, of a nature which I
now see to have been decidedly prejudicial, in-
asmuch as outward forms so frivolous as those
which are commanded by the church to which
I then belonged, have a direct tendency to lead
the mind from seeking that inward and spi-
ritual grace, of which outward forms are but
the types. Amongst those forms which I
particularly enforced, I well remember one,
which was that of making the sign of the
cross many times during the day. I also
insisted that these young people should re-
peat the Ave Maria, and certain other
prayers, which I taught them in the Latin
tongue, as often as they could make it con-
venient so to do; assuring them that by
their obedience or disobedience in these par-
ticulars, they would rise or fall in favour
with God and with the church. Thus I en-
deavoured, though on false principles, to shed