A Practical Directory for Young 
Christian Females 
 
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Females, by Harvey Newcomb This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost 
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Title: A Practical Directory for Young Christian Females Being a Series of Letters from a 
Brother to a Younger Sister 
Author: Harvey Newcomb 
Release Date: March 6, 2006 [EBook #17934] 
Language: English 
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRACTICAL 
DIRECTORY FOR *** 
 
Produced by PM Childrens Library, Pilar Somoza and the Online Distributed 
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A PRACTICAL DIRECTORY FOR YOUNG CHRISTIAN FEMALES; BEING A 
SERIES OF LETTERS FROM A BROTHER TO A YOUNGER SISTER. 
BY HARVEY NEWCOMB. 
WRITTEN FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY, AND 
APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION. 
Seventh Edition.
BOSTON: MASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY Depository, No. 13 
Cornhill. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833, by CHRISTOPHER C. DEAN, 
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 
Stereotyped by HOBART & ROBBINS; NEW ENGLAND TYPE AND STEREOTYPE 
FOUNDRY, BOSTON. 
 
PREFACE. 
The following Letters were truly, as they profess to have been, written to a younger sister 
of the author. By the death of her parents, she was left, in a measure, dependent upon him, 
at an early age. She had been the subject of many prayers, and endeared by many ties. His 
house, as he humbly trusts, was the place of her second birth. As she was about to leave 
his roof, for a residence among strangers, the idea occurred to him of imbodying his 
fraternal counsel in such a form that it might be a friendly monitor to her, in the midst of 
those dangers and difficulties which beset the path of inexperienced youth. In prosecuting 
this design, it appeared hardly proper to bestow so much time upon the interests of one 
individual. Hence the writer concluded to commit these Letters to the press, with the hope 
that they might be the means of doing some good. This work is intended not merely to be 
read and laid aside; but, as its title imports, to be kept as a kind of practical directory for 
daily living. This edition has been revised with great care, and much new matter added. 
BOSTON, 1851. 
 
CONTENTS. 
Preface, 5 
LETTER I. 
The Christian's Mark, 17 
Introduction, 17 A Great Mistake, 17 The Grace of God a Growing Principle, 18 The 
Spring that never dries nor freezes, 19 Growth in Grace, 20 The Glory of God, how 
manifested, 21 The true Standard of Holiness, 21 Paul's desire for Higher Attainments, 22 
How Eminent Holiness is attained, 23 Examples of Eminent Persons, 23 Mrs. Edwards, 
24 Earnestness in Religion, 25 Religion the great Business of Life, 25 
LETTER II. 
_Importance of a thorough Knowledge of the Doctrines of Christianity; Means of 
obtaining it_, 26
Connection of Doctrine and Practice, 26 Religion compared to a Building, 27 The Holy 
Spirit operates through the Truth, 28 Genuine and Spurious Religious Affections 
distinguished, 28 Office of the Truth in Sanctification, 29 Doctrinal Knowledge without 
Practice, 29 
Directions, 30 
1. Becomes a Little Child, 30 The Starting Point of Error, 31 2. Avoid a Controversial 
Spirit, 31 An Error of Young Persons, 31 3. Use Helps, 32 Writings of Men, why studied, 
32 Bible the Text Book, 32 4. Seek the Aid of the Holy Spirit, 32 
LETTER III. 
_True Religion a Work of Grace in the Heart, but must be carried out in the Conduct_, 33 
Inconstancy of False Religion, 34 Fruitfulness of True Piety, 34 Fruits of the True and 
False Professor contrasted, 35 Fruit-bearing the test of Christian Character, 36 The Fruits 
of the Spirit, 36 Love, as in the Experience of David, 37 Manifested in willing Obedience, 
38 Love of the Brethren, 38 Spiritual Joy. Peace, 39 Peace of Mind; its Manifestations, 
40 Meekness the Twin Sister of Peace, 41 Long-suffering, Gentleness, 41 Goodness, 42 
Faith, a Common Principle of Action, 42 An Operative Principle, 43 Power of Faith. 
Temperance, 43 
LETTER IV. 
Reading and Study of the, Bible, 44 
Search the Scriptures, 45 We must set our Hearts to it, 45 
Directions, 46 
1. Read the Bible in your Closet, 46 2. Preparation of the Heart, 47 3. Seek the Aid of the 
Holy Spirit, 47 4. Read with Self-application, 47 5. Read the Scriptures regularly, 48 6. 
Study the Bible systematically, 48 Variety and Harmony of the Bible, 49    
    
		
	
	
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