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unwelcome. Blessed is he, who can find pleasure in its society, and comfort in its conversation; and who can rest with security on its promises, This, however, can happen only to him, who has held familiar converse with this best friend in better days. When, finally, this world shall begin to vanish from his eyes, and the awful scenes of eternity to open on his view, where else shall his fluttering, fearful soul seek for a resting place, or find repose!

This observation naturally leads our thoughts to the great advantage and solemn duty of enuring youth to the daily perusal of the Bible. If children be not brought up in the early habit of reading Scripture with reverence, they will afterwards learn to read it with levity; but if they be, the familiar and historical or narrative style, particularly of the New Testament, will ensure its being always read with pleasure and recollected with edification. When habitually perused in their infant years, the language and sentiments of the Sacred Writers are indelibly imprinted on the minds of the young: otherwise, they seldom become familiar with their Bibles or fond of them afterwards. Many instructive, persuasive and awful texts remain dormant in the mind for many years, without being thought of from our boyish days; "hidden in our heart, that we might not sin;”*

*Psalm exix. 11.

but these didactic, consolatory or alarming truths often flash upon the mind in the most critical incidents of life; and frequently deter from vice. When tempted to break a Commandment, the youth will hear a voice whispering in his ear: "Do not steal: do not kill: do not commit adultery." If he yield to the temptation, he will be astounded, in the very perpetration of his crime, by the same voice, crying to his affrighted soul; "Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge:" "No fornicator, nor adulterer shall have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ or God." When he hears the "terrors of the Lord", denounced against the sinner, the venerable figure of Nathan will start up before his astonished eyes; and pointing to him, say "Thou art the man." His deeds of darkness will oftimes be illuminated by a divine effulgence; and he will hear a voice from heaven saying; "Depart, thou cursed, into everlasting fire."

Considered merely as an instrument of instruction in the art of reading, select portions of the Bible are peculiarly well calculated for the purpose; for the style being alternately narrative and didactic, sublime and familiar, requires the frequent use of all the most common and necessary words; so that a young person, who can understand the language of the Bible, will readily comprehend any other book, that he may have occasion to study. This practice is an essential

object in the education of the poor. The improvement, which they may derive from other branches of learning, will be serviceable to themselves. and the community, only in proportion to their knowledge and belief of religion. Without this, it may become ruinous to both. If the populace were destitute of a sense of religion, it would be better, that they were deficient in every other branch of education. There would be more security in the natural propensities of uninstructed nature, than in those artificial acquirements, which, without a deep conviction of religious truth, may be readily converted into instruments. of tumult, licentiousness and fraud.

Before, therefore, children be dismissed from the superintendence of their parents and instructors, let them be thoroughly imbued with Scriptural knowledge. Let them commit to memory, and habitually repeat the most affecting discourses of our Lord, the most awful exhortations of the prophets and apostles, the most edifying portions of the Proverbs and Psalms, and all the parables of Christ. Let their minds be so deeply tinged with the truths which they inculcate, that it shall not be in their power to efface them; that, while they continue in the paths of innocence, they may be their safeguard and consolation; and, if they go astray, may be a "thorn in their sides, prickles in their eyes" and a sting to their consciences, which will suffer them to enjoy

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neither pleasure nor peace, till they return to the ways of wisdom. Let every young person, like Timothy, be made acquainted, "from a child, with the Holy Scriptures; for they are able to make him wise unto salvation, and are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. By them he will be made perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works; and he will continue in the things, which he has learned, and been assured of, knowing whence he had learned them."

Although, I trust, there is little need to convince you of these truths, yet I have thought fit "to stir up your minds by way of remembrance," that you may both be more assiduous in the study of Scripture yourselves; and encourage and assist others, especially the poor, to persevere in this holy practice, by exhortation, by gifts of the Holy Scriptures, and by contributing to societies, instituted for this most salutary and benevolent purpose. Thus may we all, rich and poor, old and young, be continually "mindful of the words spoken of old by the holy prophets; and by the apostles, and by our Lord himself; and grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ."-Amen.

SERMON II.

ON THE MOST PROFITABLE MODE OF READING THE BIBLE.

PSALM CXIX.-105.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

IN discoursing on these words, I shall endeavour to explain what appears to me to be the most profitable mode of studying Scripture, so that it may be a "lamp to our feet, and a light to our path." I address myself neither to the sceptic nor the critic, neither to the frivolous nor the profane, neither to the enthusiastic nor the fanatic; but to serious Christians, firmly convinced of the fundamental facts and principles of revelation.

I speak to those, who are thoroughly assured, that the Almighty has exercised his providence in superintending the spiritual as well as the temporal concerns of mankind, from the beginning of the world; that he made himself known to the

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