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discover, on every proper occasion, that you are not shamed; but avoid making any unnecessary ostentaion of it before the world.

To piety, join modesty and docility, reverence of your parents, and submission to those who are your uperiors in knowledge, in station, and in years. Debendence and obedience belong to youth. Modesty s one of its chief ornaments; and has ever been eseemed a presage of rising merit. When entering on the career of life, it is your part, not to assume the reigns as yet into your hands; but to commit yourselves o the guidance of the more experienced, and to betome wise by the wisdom of those who have gone beore you. Of all the follies incident to youth, here are none which either deform its present appearnce, or blast the prospect of its future prosperity, more than self-conceit, presumption, and obstinacy. By thecking its natural progress in improvement, they fix tin long immaturity; and frequently produce mishiefs, which can never be repaired. Yet these are vices oo commonly found among the young. Big with enerprise, and elated by hope, they resolve to trust for uccess to none but themselves. Full of their own abiities, they deride the admonitions which are given hem by their friends, as the timorous suggestions of ige. Too wise to learn, too impatient to deliberate, oo forward to be restrained, they plunge, with precibitant indiscretion, into the midst of all the dangers with which life abounds. Seest thou a young man wise in is own conceit? There is more hope of a fool, than of him. -Positive as you now are in your opinions, and conident in your assertions, be assured, that the time aproaches when both men and things will appear to you n a different light. Many characters which you now dmire, will, by and by, sink in your esteem; and nany opinions, of which you are at present most tenaous, will alter as you advance in years. Distrust, herefore, that glare of youthful presumption, which

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dazzles your eyes. Abound not in your own sense. Put not yourselves forward with too much eagerness; nor imagine, that by the impetuosity of juvenile ar dour, you can overturn systems which have been long established, and change the face of the world. Learn not to think more highly of yourselves than you ought, but to think soberly. By patient and gradual progression in improvement, you may, in due time, command lasting esteem. But by assuming, at present, a tone of superiority, to which you have no title, you will disgust those whose approbation it is most important to gain Forward vivacity may fit you to be the companions of an idle hour. More solid qualities must recommend you to the wise, and mark you out for importance and consideration in subsequent life.

It is necessary to recommend to you, sincerity and truth. This is the basis of every virtue. That darkness of character, where we can see no heart; those foldings of art, through which no native affection is allowed to penetrate, present an object, unamiable in every season of life, but particularly odious in youth. If, at an age when the heart is warm, when the emotions are strong, and when nature is expected to shew itself free and open, you can already smile and deceive, what are we to look for when you shall be longer hackneyed in the ways of men; when interest shall have completed the obduration of your heart, and experience shall have improved you in all the arts of guile? Dissimulation in youth, is the fore-runner of perfidy in old age. Its first appearance is the fatal omen of growing depravity, and future shame. grades parts and learning; obscures the lustre of every accomplishment; and sinks you into contempt with God and man. As you value, therefore, the ap probation of Heaven, or the esteem of the world, cultivate the love of truth. In all your proceedings be di rect and consistent. Ingenuity and candour possess the most powerful charm; they bespeak universal fa

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vour, and carry an apology for almost every failing. The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but a lying tongue, is but for a moment. The path of truth, is a plain and a safe path; that of falsehood, is a perplexing maze. After the first departure from sincerity, it is not in your power to stop. One artifice unavoidably leads on to another; till, as the intricacy of the labyrinth ncreases, you are left entangled in your own snare. Deceit discovers a little mind, which stops at tempoary expedients, without rising to comprehensive views of conduct. It betrays, at the same time, a dastardly pirit. It is the resource of one who wants courage to wow his designs, or to rest upon himself. Whereas, penness of character displays that generous boldness which ought to distinguish youth. To set out in the world with no other principle than a crafty attention o interest, betokens one who is destined for creeping hrough the inferior walks of life. But to give an early reference to honour above gain, when they stand in ompetition; to despise every advantage, which canot be attained without dishonest arts; to brook no neanness, and to stoop to no dissimulation; are the ndications of a great mind, the presages of future emence and distinction in life. At the same time, his virtuous sincerity is perfectly consistent with the nost prudent vigilance and caution. It is opposed to unning, not to true wisdom. It is not the simplicity f a weak and improvident, but the candour of an nlarged and noble mind; of one who scorns deceit, ecause he accounts it both base and unprofitable; nd who seeks no disguise, because he needs none to ide him.

Youth is the proper season of cultivating the beevolent and humane affections. As a great part of our happiness is to depend on the connections which ou form with others, it is of high importance that bu acquire, betimes, the temper and the manners hich will render such connections comfortable. Let

a sense of justice be the foundation of all your soci qualities. In your most early intercourse with th world, and even in your youthful amusements, let unfairness be found. Engrave on your mind that s cred rule, of doing all things to others, according as y wish that they should do unto you. For this end, impre yourselves with a deep sense of the original and na ural equality of men. Whatever advantages of bir or fortune you possess, never display them with an o tentatious superiority. Leave the subordinations rank, to regulate the intercourse of more advanc years. At present, it becomes you to act among yo companions, as man with man. Remember how u known to you are the vicissitudes of the world; ar how often they on whom ignorant and contemptuo young men once looked down with scorn, have ris to be their superiors in future years. Compassi is an emotion of which you ought never to be shamed. Graceful in youth is the tear of sympath and the heart that melts at the tale of woe. Let ease and indulgence contract your affections, and wr you up in selfish enjoyments. But go sometimes to t house of mourning, as well as to the house of feastin Accustom yourselves to think of the distresses of k man life; of the solitary cottage, the dying pare and the weeping orphan. Never sport with pain a distress, in any of your amusements; nor treat ev the meanest insect with wanton cruelty.

young minds there is commonly a strong propens to particular intimacies and friendships. Youth, i deed, is the season when friendships are sometim formed, which not only continue through succeedi life, but which glow to the last, with a tendern unknown to the connections begun in cooler yea The propensity therefore is not to be discourage though at the same time it must be regulated w much circumspection and care. Too many of pretended friendships of youth, are mere comba

ons in pleasure. They are often founded on caprious likings; suddenly contracted, and as suddenly issolved. Sometimes they are the effect of interested omplaisance and flattery on the one side, and of credous fondness on the other. Beware of such rash and angerous connections, which may afterwards load ou with dishonour. Remember that by the charac of those whom you choose for your friends, your wn is likely to be formed, and will certainly be dged of by the world. Be slow, therefore, and cauous in contracting intimacy; but when a virtuous iendship is once established, consider it as a sacred ngagement. Expose not yourselves to the reproach of ghtness and inconstancy, which always bespeak, either trifling, or a base mind. Reveal none of the secrets fyour friend. Be faithful to his interests. Forsake im not in danger. Abhor the thought of acquiring ny advantage by his prejudice or hurt.

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rder to render yourselves amiable in society, correct very appearance of harshness in behaviour. Let at courtesy distinguish your demeanor, which prings, not so much from studied politeness, as from mild and gentle heart. Follow the customs of the world in matters indifferent; but stop when they be me sinful. Let your manners be simple and natural; nd of course they will be engaging. Affectation is ertain deformity. By forming themselves on fantastic models, and vying with one another in every reigning lly, the young begin with being ridiculous, and end being vicious and immoral.

The love of pleasure, natural to man in every period f his life, glows at this age with excessive ardour. Vovelty adds fresh charms, as yet, to every gratication. The world appears to spread a continual east; and health, vigour, and high spirits, invite hem to partake of it without restraint. In vain we warn them of latent dangers. Religion is accused of sufferable severity, in prohibiting enjoyment, and

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