There is something in your case, my young friends, rendering the application of this to you strikingly appropriate. For instance:

The

1. Your general privileges, from your earliest days. You were born, as it were, under the word, and within the very walls of the gospel sanctuary. The sound of your own name is not more familiar to you than the name of Jehovah. The Sabbath has always been represented to you as the most important day of the seven. Bible was one of the first books you were taught to read. The voice of prayer has been as familiar to you as the sounds of play. And year after year have we seen you in your places in the weekly solemn assembly. Surely then, in your case, heaven and earth may be solemnly appealed to, to attest your privileges; heaven and earth may justly be called upon, to bear witness that life and death, blessing and cursing, have been set before you. Then, under its commanding, constraining voice, O choose life!Again :

2. The special solemnities of this day tend to give weight to your choice. Not only is the first Sabbath in a new year in itself important, as an occasion on which we are particularly called upon to pause and consider; but you are

aware that for many years it has been the custom of the ministers of at least two of the dissenting congregations in the town, on the new year's Sabbath to address the young with peculiar and appropriate earnestness. These have always been anxious days in prospect, preceded by many prayers and tears, and never closed with perfect satisfaction; because we never think we have done enough; we fear we have not been sufficiently plain, and earnest, and faithful, and affectionate, and interesting; we have often closed the solemn services of the day with sighs and tears and secret misgivings-and why? Oh!-lest-after all-you should not choose life and live! O let the solemnities of this day sink deep into your minds, lest our apprehensions should be realized.-Again :

3. The services of this day receive a special interest, from an event which has occurred since the last new year's Sabbath.-I refer to the death of Mr. Fuller. For many years we have unitedly engaged in these addresses, and have been used to arrange the services. so as to allow the bulk of the young people of the two congregations an opportunity of hearing both the sermons. On this day twelvemonths, we both addressed you; but our father, where is he? Though, blessed be God, you have to-day heard

his successor (whom God succeed!)-you have not heard his voice:

"The watchful eye in darkness clos'd,

And mute th' instructive tongue."

Let his silence to-day preach to you. Posthumous sermons are sometimes very useful. Hear him from his grave; hear him from his forsaken pulpit; hear him from the press; hear him from his representative, in the person of his successor. Surely, young people, it is a peculiarly solemn season to-day, from the very silence of one of your instructors last year.-Again :

4. The solemnities of this day derive additional interest from the consideration that your surviving instructor is at this moment preaching his fortieth annual sermon among you.-He is addressing the very grandchildren of some who were listening as youthful hearers in the early days of his ministry. Whether this should be his last address of this kind, or not, it behoves both him and you most seriously to expect that the remnant may be very few. We have much to do in a little time. Let us be up and doing. 'Whatsoever our hands find to do, let us do it with all our might.' Let us be "followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." "Laying up in store "a good foundation against the time to come."

5.

Another most serious consideration is, That on the effect of your choice may depend that of an incalculable posterity.-Considering each of you simply as an individual, the stake is immense. But to what an extent do our thoughts reach, when we contemplate you as the future heads of families. The choice of each of you may influence that of five or ten others, and their choice may influence the choice of as many families. Thus your single choice may in a sense affect the well-being of many generations. The nature of your choice this day may be the means of leading multitudes either to heaven or to hell. So that the whole compass of the text may be applicable. "I call heaven and earth to record against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." Happy parents, aud happy ministers, amidst all their discouragements, who can conscientiously adopt this language; and happy will they be who yield to the urgent appeal!

FILIAL WISDOM-PARENTAL JOY.

SERMON XVII.

[Preached at Kettering, Jan. 5. 1817.]

PROV. XXIII. 15.

MY SON, IF THINE HEART BE WISE, MY HEART SHALL REJOICE, EVEN MINE.

YOU well know that on these interesting occasions we are in the habit of selecting and discussing some topic in religion directly bearing on your everlasting concerns. We assure you, over and over, that "godliness is profitable to all things;" that "if thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself;" that "wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness;" that if to live be Christ "to die is gain." So that, in this connexion, subjects bearing immediately on personal salvation, seem to be used up, if not exhausted. if not exhausted. On the present occasion, therefore, your minister feels inclined to go upon other ground, and to try the force of a different motive with you-a motive springing from your filial character and relations.