Imatges de pàgina
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exhortations, and inftructions often adminiftered, we may be led to fear God, and keep his commandments. Religious difcourfes may furely put us upon reflection. And if we can be only brought to reflect, there can be no great doubt of our future progrefs in wisdom and virtue.

Finally. Having diligently used all other means, we fhould humbly repair to the bleffed God for his divine fupport and affift ance. He is the Father of lights, and Fountain of wisdom; and he giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not. Never was there a man, who wished to improve, who had not recourfe to the duty of prayer. Go then to the beft of beings, and let it be your language:-" Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy ftatutes, and I will keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I fhall keep thy law, yea, I shall obferve it with my whole heart."

Thus have I endeavoured to fhow by what means a wife or religious character may be formed. Convinced that religion is the principal thing, let all, but particularly the young, ufe every measure to obtain it. Labour for a comprehenfive knowledge of your duty. Study the facred fcriptures: hear counfel, and fubmit to reproof: imitate good examples: rev

erence.

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erence the day, and frequent the house of God and pray earneftly, that he would "turn away your eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken you in his way. Above all, fet before you the example of Jefus Chrift, and endeavour to walk as he walked. If you do these things, you will never fall. Growing in years, you will grow in favour with God and man. And you will realize the truth of those fair profeffions:-"I love them, who love me, and they who feek me early shall find me." Amen.

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Sermon II.

THE AMIABLE YOUTH.

MARK x. 21, 22.

THEN JESUS, BEHOLDING HIM, LOVED HIM; AND SAID UNTO HIM, ONE THING THOU LACKEST : GO THY WAY, SELL WHATSOEVER THOU HAST, AND GIVE TO THE POOR; AND THOU SHALT HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN; AND COME, TAKE UP THE CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME. AND HE WAS SAD AT THAT SAYING, AND WENT AWAY GRIEVED; FOR HE HAD GREAT POSSESSIONS.

THIS is a very interesting part of fcripture. The context acquaints us, that a youth of fortune came running to our Saviour, and kneeling before him, propofed that very important queftion," Good Mafter, what shall I do, that I may inherit eternal life ?" To which our Lord replied, "Thou knoweft the commandments; do not commit adultery; do not kill; do not steal; do not bear falfe witness ; defraud not; honour thy father and mo

ther."

ther." "And he anfwered, and faid unto him, Mafter, all thefe have I obferved from my youth. Then Jefus, beholding him, loved him; and faid unto him, One thing thou lackeft: go thy way, fell whatsoever thou haft, and give to the poor; and thou fhalt have treasure in Heaven: and come, take up the crofs, and follow me. And he was fad at that faying, and went away grieved; for he had great poffeffions."

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There is fomething very engaging in this converfation, and alfo in the characters by which it was conducted. We behold a youth, of family and fortune, thoughtful of his foul, and ferioufly concerned about its eternal welfare. With pleasure we behold the delicacy of his manners and deportment; and are powerfully attracted by the refpectful language in which he addreffed the Son of God. The prevailing tenour of his life and converfation makes a deep impreffion on us. And had he been as indifferent about his worldly poffeffions, as thofe guilty pleasures young perfons too generally purfue, we fhould have pronounced him, a moft accomplished, a perfect human character. But wealth had charms, which he was not able to refift. He could not prevail with himself to part with all, and follow Chrift. He could

not

not exchange the fplendour of his ftation for poverty, fufferings, and death. He therefore facrificed duty to intereft ;and, for the perishable treafures of this world, forfeited thofe durable riches which are referved in heaven for the righteous. This is the fubftance of his unhappy ftory, which, however, affords us many useful reflexions.

And, first, I would obferve, the agree able impreffion this youth made upon our divine Lord. Beholding him, he loved him. Yes, the Son of God, who was perfectly acquainted with his character, loved a youth who prefered earth to heaven, riches to his foul, and the fplendour of this world to the glory of a better! This may seem like a paradox, but it is undoubtedly a mat ter of fact. In the text, it is positively af ferted.

But how did he love him? Not furely with that ardour of affection, which he entertains for thofe who are wholly con-formed to God, who are ready to part with all the good things of life, and even life itself, when called to fuch a facrifice. His love was not of that kind which is ex-cited by the true difciple. It was of an inferiour nature, and fuch as we often feel towards perfons, who, together with in

mumerable

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