feems to me but very fmall. A clergyman without religion, to be fure is a dreadful character, and, when visible, a detestable one; but truly one would think, at the clofe of life, it will be but little comfort to a man, that he must go to the place of torment, not as a minister, but as a lawyer, phyfician, foldier, or merchant. Therefore fuffer me to say to you, and to all who now hear me, that the care of your fouls is the one

thing needful.' All mankind, of every rank, denomination and profeffion, are finners by nature. The minifters of the New Teftament have received a commiffion to preach the gospel to every creature : 'He that believeth fhall be faved, and he that believeth not shall be damned. While I fay this, I beg of you to consider that the advantages which you have enjoyed, will be an aggravation of your guilt, if they are unimproved. There is an equity as well as wisdom often to be obferved in the providence of God. Unless reafons of fovereignty, that is, reafons unknown to us, prevent it, judgment will be inflicted, when a perfon or people is ripe for the ftroke. Therefore, as. fome plants and feeds, both from their own nature and from the foil and fituation in which they are placed, ripen fooner than others, fo fome perfons, by the early pains taken upon them, and the privileges they have enjoyed, fill up the meafure of their iniquities fooner than others, and are more fpeedily overtaken with deferved vengeance.

There

There are many common fayings that are the effects of error and prejudice; for example, that which you will be told by many, that the children of good men are as bad as any." If this is intended to infinuate that a regular and pious education affords no ground to hope for good behaviour in after life, it is at once contrary to reafon and experience. But if we fhould fay that when young perfons pioufly educated, burft restraining bonds afunder, and are feduced into vicious courfes, they commonly run fafter and farther than others, it is a certain fact, which may-be easily accounted for, and affords an important inftruction to all.

After intreating you to lay religion to heart, I muft befeech you to guard against being too easily fatisfied in a matter of infinite moment. Do not think it enough to be prudent, cautious, or decent in your conduct, or to attain a character formed upon worldly principles, and governed by worldly motives." I am not against (as you all know) introducing every argument against fin, and fhewing you that loofe practices are ruinous to name, body, and eftate.

Neither is it wrong that you should fortify every pious refolution by the addition of thefe motives. But alas! the evil lies deeper. Except a man be born again, he

cannot enter into the kingdom of God.' True religion must arise from a clear and deep conviction of your loft ftate by nature and practice,

and

and an unfeigned reliance on the pardoning mercy and fanctifying grace of God.

Suffer me, upon this fubject, earnestly to recommend to all that fear God, to apply themselves from their earlieft youth, to the exercises of piety, a life of prayer and communion with God. This is the fource from which a real Chriftian muft derive the fecret comfort of his heart, and which alone will give beauty, confiftency, and uniformity to an exemplary life. The reafon why I have mentioned it on this occafion is, that youth, when the fpirits are lively and the affections vigorous and ftrong, is the feafon when this habit must be formed. There are advantages and disadvantages attending every stage. of life. An aged Chriftian will naturally grow in prudence, vigilance, usefulness, attention to the course of providence, and fubjection to the divine will; but will seldom attain to greater fervour of affection and life in divine worship, than he had been accuftomed to from his early years. On the contrary, he will generally fee it neceffary instead of trufting to occafional impulses to guard and strengthen the habit by order and form.

Be companions of them that fear God. Efteem them always moft highly, and fhun, as a contagious peftilence, the fociety not only of loofe perfons, but of thofe efpecially whom you perceive to be infected with the principles of infide-. lity, or enemies to the power of religion. Many

of

of thefe are much more, dangerous to pious perfons than open profligates. As for these last, decency is against them, the world itfelf condemns them, reafon defpifes them, and prudence fhuns them. He must have a very mean taste indeed who is capable of finding pleasure in diforder and riot. If I had no higher pleasure on earth than in eating and drinking, I would not chufe to eat and drink with the drunken. Order, neatness, elegance, and even moderation itself are necessary to exalt and refine the pleasures of a fenfual life. Therefore I will not allow myself to fuppofe, that I fhall afterwards hear of any of you roaring and fwearing in taverns, or wafting your bodies and eftates, by lewdnefs and debauchery, or that you take pleasure in those who do fo. But be especially careful to avoid those who are enemies to vital piety, who do not pretend to speak directly againft religion, but give every vile name they can think of, to all who feem to be in earnest on that fubject, and vilify the exercises of religion under the names of whining, cant, grimace, and hypocrify. These are often unhappily fuccefsful in making fome uncautious perfons afhamed of their Redeemer's name, his truths, his laws, his people, and his

I need hardly obferve, that this is not to be understood as recommending pharifaical pride and fupercilioufnefs, far lefs a rash and prefumptuous judging of the ftate of others. It is not

only

1

only lawful, but our duty, to have a free communication with our fellow citizens, for the purpofes of focial life: It is not only lawful but our duty to be courteous and to give every proper evidence of refpect and attention to others, ac cording to their rank and place in fociety. What' I mean to caution you against is, an unneceffary, voluntary intercourfe, fuch as has inclination for its motive and pleafure for its object. With refpect to this, we need not hesitate to fay with the infpired prophet, He that walketh with wife men fhall be wife, but a companion of fools fhall be destroyed.'

2. I come now to speak a little upon the pro fecution of your ftudies and the improvement of your talents. Your education in a feminary of learning, is only intended to give you the elements and firft principles of fcience, which fhould whet your appetite for more, and which will enable you to proceed with an affüred hope of fuccefs. It hath been generally a favourite point with me, to recommend the union of picty and literature, and to guard young perfons againft the oppofite extremes. We fee fometimes the pride of unfanctified knowledge do great injury to religion; and on the other hand, we find some perfons of real piety defpifing human learning, and difgracing the most glorious truths by a meanness and indecency hardly fufferable in their manner of handling them. On this account, industry and application to study is of the utm.oft

A a