to bear its burdens; and substance to support the expenses? Otherwise, like the foolish builder, after you have laid the foundation, you will not be able to finish, and thereby expose yourself to sorrow and shame. If you are fitted for callings of different excellence, it is our wisdom and duty to choose that in which we may most eminently serve God and the community."

2d. Let faithful, judicious persons be consulted, especially of the same calling. They are the fittest judges in their own profession, as they best know the conveniences and inconveniences attending it, and the qualifications requisite for it: great regard, therefore, should be had to their advice, supposing them judicious and faithful. Let the young be persuaded to submit their judgments to persons of experience and fidelity, and steer their course by their advice. Then, should they be unsuccessful, this reflection will yield them support, "that they were not ruined by their own rashness;" and they will find persons ready to assist a man of conduct and prudence in his distress, who would despise the man of humour and caprice.

3d. Choose such a calling and place as may not be dangerous to the mind. There are some callings which are in themselves lawful, and sufficiently gainful, in which, nevertheless, as they are at present managed, none who regard

the precious and immortal soul, would fix their children; because the temptations which attend them are so many and great, that it is next to impossible to be preserved from the contagion of vice and immorality in them. There are places also, which, on account of business, would be deservedly preferred, and yet by the supineness and neglect of masters in the government of their families, and the infection of evil servants, who are the bane of youth, they are rendered equally destructive. Deal not worse by your children than you would by the herd of the stall, or the sheep of the fold. Expose not their immortal souls to such imminent hazard for any momentary gain; for what will it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Let them be situated where God is reverently worshipped, and his day religiously observed; where the weakness and impetuosity of youthful dispositions may be under a wholesome restraint, and they may be taught to live for time and eternity. For, permit me to say, that if their lives and manners are not regulated by reason and religion, they will be as far from happiness in this world, as they are from the warrantable hopes of a better.

4th. Let the divine providence be acknowledged, by earnest supplications for direction and assistance. It is God that appointeth the

bounds and places of our habitation, that by a sense of our dependence upon him, we might be induced to seek after him. It is part of the reasonable homage which intelligent and dependent creatures owe to the supreme Creator and Governor of all, to acknowledge him in all their ways; in doing this we are allowed to hope that he will direct our paths; but in the neglect of it, as we have no right to expect the guidance or blessing of heaven, so it will be no wonder if we meet with disappointment and distress. God only knows all the temptations and difficulties, advantages and disadvantages of the several situations in life, and our strength and fitness to bear them. He has often directed the honest humble inquirer, sometimes by persons and means unknown and unthought of, into the way most conducive to his present comfort and future happiness. It is our best interest as well as our proper duty, to leave him to choose our inheritance for us."

5th. In concurrence with the foregoing directions, let the person's inclination be consulted; which if it is strongly and reasonably fixed on any particular calling, is one method whereby we receive the direction of providence, and a good step to a proper choice. Persons generally make the best proficiency in, and most. easily bear the inconveniences of, those em

ployments and situations, to which their natural dispositions incline them.

"I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause, Job v. 8.

"Then I proclaimed a fast, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way. So we besought our God for this, and he was entreated of us. The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him ; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him, Ezra viii. 21, 23.

"Neither know we what to do, but our eyes are up unto thee, 2 Chron. xx. 12.

"In the multitude of counsellors there is safety, Prov. xi. 14.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the Lord, and depart from evil, Prov. iii. 5, 7.

A man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps, Prov. xvi. 9.

"I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps, Jer. x. 23.

"Let ours also learn to maintain good works (or profess honest trades,) for necessary uses that they be not unfruitful, Tit. iii. 1.

"Let him that stole, steal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good; that he may have to give to him that needeth, Ephes. iv. 28.

"Wo unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong, &c. Jerem. xxii. 11.

"If ye will walk contrary to me, then will I also walk contrary to you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins, &c. Levit. xxvi. 21, 28.

"Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; but he that gathereth by labour shall increase, Prov. xiii. 11.

"Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, Prov. x. 2.

"He that soweth iniquity, shall reap vanity, Prov. xxii. 8.

II. Proper dispositions and views, are equally necessary with a suitable choice of an employment. As we are beings, not governed by instinct, as irrational creatures are, but possessed of reason, and directed in the exercise of it by a revelation from God; it concerns us that the views and motives of all our actions, and the disposition and manner in which they are conducted, be agreeable to the directions heaven has given to lead us in the paths of duty and happiness, and worthy of the reasonable natures with which we are endowed. Now to this end it is especially necessary that the mind be influenced and directed by the principles of religion. We may justly impute the miscarriage of thousands, to their unadvised