our cup; while, on the other hand, when we have seen you, listening with attention, quietly wiping away the tear of emotion, or retiring pensive and serious to your closet, we have rejoiced more than they which find great spoil. When we have looked on the conduct of any pious youth, we have uttered the wish, "O that my child were like him!" and have directed your attention to his character, as that which we wished you to make the model of your's. When, on the other hand, we have witnessed the behaviour of some prodigal son, who has been the grief of his parents, the thought has been like a dagger to our heart, "What if my child should turn out thus !"

1. Now we cherish all this solicitude on our own account. We candidly assure you, that nothing short of this will make us happy. Your piety is the only thing that will make us rejoice that we are parents. How can we endure to see our children choosing any other ways than those of wisdom, and any other path than that of life? How could we bear the sight, to behold you travelling along the broad road which leadeth to destruction, and running with the multitude to do evil? "O God, hide us from this sad spectacle, in the grave, and ere that time comes, take us to our rest." But how would it embitter our last moments, and plant our dying pillow with thorns, to leave you on earth in an unconverted state; following us to the grave, but not to heaven. Or should you be called to die before us, and take possession of the tomb in our names, how could we stand at the dreadful post of observation, darker every hour, without one ray of hope for you, to cheer our

wretched spirits! How could we sustain the dreadful thought, which in spite of ourselves would sometimes steal across the bosom, that the very next moment after you had passed beyond our kind attentions, you would be received to the torments which know neither end nor mitigation! And when you had departed under such circumstances, what could heal our wounds, or dry our tears!

Should you become truly pious, this circumstance will impart to our bosoms a felicity which no language could enable me to describe. It will sweeten all our intercourse with you, establish our confidence, allay our fears, awaken our hopes. If we are prosperous, it will delight us to think that we are not acquiring riches for those who will squander it on their lusts, but who will employ it for the glory of God when we are in the dust. Or, if we are poor, it will cheer us to reflect, that though we cannot leave you the riches of this world, we see you in possession of the favour of God, and that portion, which after comforting you on earth, will enrich you through eternity. My dear children, if you are anxious to comfort the hearts of your pa rents, if ye would fulfil our joy; if ye would repay all our labour, anxiety, affection; if ye would most effectually discharge all the obligations which you cannot deny you owe us, Fear God, and choose the ways of religion: this, this only, will make us happy.

2. We cherish this solicitude on behalf of the church, and the cause of God.

We are every year conveying to the tombs of their fathers, some valued and valuable members of the Christian church. We are perpe

tually called to witness the desolations of the last enemy in the garden of the Lord. How often do we exclaim over the corpse of some eminent Christian and benefactor," Departed saint, how heavy the loss we have sustained by thy removal to a better state! Who now shall fill up thy vacant seat, and bless like thee both the church and the world?" My children, under these bereavements, to whom should we look but to you? To whom should we turn but to the children of the kingdom, for subjects of the kingdom? You are the property of the church. It has a claim upon you. Will ye not own it, and discharge it? Must we see the walls of the spiritual house mouldering away, and you, the rightful materials with which it should be repaired, withheld? We love the church, we long for its prosperity, we pray for its increase, and it cannot but be deeply distressing to us to witness the ravages of death, and, at the same time, to see the want of religion in those young persons, whose parents, during their life, filled places of honour and usefulness in the fellowship of the faithful.

We are anxious for your being pious that you might be the instruments of blessing the world by the propagation of religion. The moral condition of the world is too bad for description. If it be ever improved, this must be done by Christians. True piety is the only reformer of mankind. A spirit of active benevolence has happily risen up, rich in purposes and means, for the benefit of the human race. But the men, in whose bosoms it now lives and moves, are not immortal upon earth; they too must sleep in dust, and who shall succeed them

at their post and enter into their labours? Who will catch their falling mantle, and carry on their glorious undertaking for the salvation of millions? If it be ever done, it must be done of course by those who are now rising into life. The propagation of religion to the next genera tion, and to distant nations, depends on you, and others of your age. While I write, the groans of creation are ascending; and future ages are rising up to plead with you, that you' would bow to the influence of religion, as the only way of extending it to them.

3. But we are chiefly anxious, after all, on your account.

My children, the anxiety which we feel on this head, is far too intense for language. Here I may truly say, poor is thought, and poor expression." If piety were to be obtained for you only by purchase, and I were rich in the pos session of worlds, I would beggar myself to the last farthing to render you a Christian, and think the purchase cheap. "Godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come." As I shall have more than one chapter on the advantages of piety, it will not be necessary to enlarge upon them here, any further than to say, that true godliness will save you from much present danger and inconvenience, promote your temporal interests, prepare you for the darkest scenes of adversity, comfort you on a dying bed, and finally conduct you to everlasting glory. The want of it will ensure the reverse of all this. Sooner or later such a destitution will bring misery on earth, and be followed with eternal torments in hell.

1

What then, my children, are all worldly acquirements and possessions without piety? What are the accomplishments of taste, the elegancies of wealth, the wreaths of fame, but as the fragrant and many-coloured garland which adorns the miserable victim about to be sacrificed at the shrine of this world? Original genius, a vigorous understanding, a well stored mind, and all this adorned by the most amiable temper, and most insinuating address, will neither comfort under the trials of life, nor save their lovely possessor from the worm that never dies, and the fire that is never quenched. Oh! no; they may qualify for earth, but not for heaven. Alas, alas! that such estimable qualities should all perish for want of that piety, which alone can give immortality and perfection to the excellencies of the human character!

Can you wonder then at the solicitude we feel for your personal religion, when such interests are involved in this momentous concern?

CHAPTER II.

On the dispositions with which we should enter upon an inquiry into the nature of Religion.

RELIGION is a subject of a spiritual and moral nature, and therefore requires another and a different frame of mind to that which we carry to a topic, purely intellectual.

1. The first disposition essentially necessary, is a deep seriousness,