schools and colleges, proficients indeed in languages and elements, but without having imbibed even taste, and a spirit of industry, to build through life on the foundation that has been laid. And we observe the foundation itself to be too often deficient in the main requisites of true religion, active virtue, and just sentiment. Once emancipated from the authority of instructors, the little edifice that has been raised, be it good, bad, or indifferent, is abandoned to its fate; it is left to moulder away in the progression of time, and a few years leave hardly a vestige of what they once acquired.

If it be asked, where is the necessity, the utility, or (amidst the various avocations of active life) the practicability of a young man's addicting himself to study? Have we not daily instances of men succeeding in various departments of business and employment, without any application to studious pursuits? To this it is answered, that men undoubtedly may and do, by industry and prudence, grow rich, and rise into a certain kind of consequence without possessing an elegant mind, or a cultivated understanding. Yet still there can be no doubt that the cultivation of taste and knowledge is an object of high im

portance, and closely connected with our usefulness and respectability, our more refined pleasures and sensibilities. But let us take up our subject in a more enlarged and comprehensive view.

A young man, at his setting out in life, should listen to the sentiments and observe the conduct of the wise and eminent among mankind; and not form his ideas, and fix his views, and frame his pursuits, on the low standard of ordinary minds. He should reflect that God has, in his great goodness to him individually, given him an immortal soul, endued with vast powers of the very same description in kind, if not in degree, with those possessed by the greatest and best men who have appeared in all ages of the world: that these powers are bestowed on him by his Creator as TALENTS highly improvable. should consider well at his commencement what things truly great, and excellent, and desirable, are really within his reach. He should form deeply in his mind a sort of scale, and true judgment of the various objects within the extent of his powers and capacity, according to the degree of their relative worthiness and importance; and upon this judgment he should fortify his mind,

He

and fix firmly his resolution, and rouse his whole powers of action, his spirit and industry, to act upon it through life.

To assist our young reader in this most interesting investigation, let us take as our guides the wise and the learned of ancient and modern times; but above all the Holy Scriptures. These all agree that the immortal Soul, its interests and faculties, should be our chief care: that our temporal circumstances and worldly objects are comparatively of very inferior consideration. This life is treated as a state of education of the soul for its transition, after a short period, to a higher and everlasting state. The grand and distinguishing feature of Christianity is, that we must be renewed in the spirit of our minds by the HOLY SPIRIT, through the redemption that is in CHRIST JESUS. Here, then, is the first great object of attention, care, and vigilance, which transcends all other objects, and leaves them all at an immeasurable distance. To be thus new "created in Christ Jesus," is the one thing needful; and obtaining that we become possessed of the "Pearl of great price." And as it is the one essential thing, so is it (unlike all terrestrial things) certainly to be obtained by pursuing it in

earnest; GOD in the riches of his bounty and mercy* having promised, that "asking we shall receive, seeking we shall find, knocking it shall be opened unto us."

The first great object in the scale of pursuit, then, is to become established members of the kingdom of GoD on earth, and of the number of those who, being renewed in the spirit of their minds, pursue earnestly after holiness, and every good work; and this leads us to the next great objects in our scale.

By the grace of GoD we are enabled to obey (though imperfectly, yet with a continual approximation towards perfection) the first and great commandment, that of loving GoD with all the heart, and mind, and soul, and strength. HE must be enthroned on your heart; and you are to obey the next great command, that of loving your neighbour as yourself, from a principle of love and obedience to GOD. This is what is intended by doing good to men from religious principle. To explain it by an example. If you

* Or, to use the Hebrew expression as applied to God, 110, "His exuberant goodness."

had a dear and valued friend who, in the hour of danger, interposed his own person between you and your deadly foe, and laid down his own life to preserve yours ;—and that friend in his last moments had commended to your care and protection his desolate child;-on what principle would you think it proper to protect and cherish the object of his solicitude? You will no doubt answer, because my departed friend, and preserver at so great a sacrifice, enjoined it. If you were to relieve the child merely from pity, as you might have done any other object of charity, you would think yourself lost to all sense of friendship, gratitude, and just sensibility. Now this is the case, only in a much higher degree, between God and us. He is our great Friend: He created us: He sent his Son into the world to die for us; and the Holy Spirit to renew and sanctify us. And GoD, our Saviour, commands us to love and serve our brethren for his sake. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." To perform acts of charity from a mere feeling of pity for the poor and unfortunate, would be so far well, had God never thus specially commanded it with reference to Himself; but as He has done so, adding, "forasmuch as ye do it to the least of these my disciples, do it unto me," what must your gracious Lord,

ye