encourage learning, as the very existence of its present happy form must depend on the virtue and knowledge of its citizens. You should show, on every occasion, without doors as well as within, patterns of moral rectitude to your pupils; for actions speak louder than words, and when precept is supported by example, the most beneficial and lasting effects may be happily expected; a fund of patience is requisite to support an even character and deportment; without this, relative trials will be altogether insupportable, and numbers of unavoida ble crosses, supernumerary disquietudes, and itinerant difficulties, will be continually intervening. But let patience have her perfect work remember that by turning one young person from the error of his ways you will save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins. I conceive it would answer a good purpose to deliver lectures to your pupils periodically, on the subjects of religion, morality, duty to parents, &c. A few appropriative sentiments in simpli fied language, in these, or words like these, might have a good effect: : An Address to young Persons. IN addressing you on this occasion I would first suggest a thought of the first importance, that perhaps seldom occurs to your minds, that is, "YOU ARE BORN TO DIE;" and from the moment of your existence, you are travelling to your graves, -to endless misery, or everlasting happiness and joy. The choice you now make of vice or virtue, of vicious or virtuous companions, will not only affect your interest in this, but like wise in the world to come. How often has it happened that children of respectable parents have come to ignominious deaths-have brought disease upon their constisutions, infamy upon their characters, and destruction upon their souls while others by prudent and virtuous conduct, gained applause and respect from men in this world, and the approbation of God in his eternal kingdom. Depend upon it that it is not your external circumstances that can decide your fate, it is your internal virtue. You have now be gun to act an awful part on the theatre of the universe, as an immortal spirit that has come from God, who is your heavenly father, and far nearer a-kin to you than your earthly father can be ; one is the first, : the other is the secondary cause of your existence; and on the part you are about to act your future and present felicity ultimately depends. If, instead of giving yourself up to the direction of virtue, you give yourself up to that of vanity, the event will be fatal. Remember you are exhorted in the word of God "to remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come;" by commencing a virtuous habit in your youth it will become natural as it becomes habitual? but if you postpone it, the consequence will be, that evil habits will grow upon you, and in time will become invincible. Remember if you wish to be respected by your friends, admired by strangers and feared by your enemies, you must live a virtuous life. Beauty, riches, health, youth, and vigour, all will decay but virtue alone will survive, when "time shall in eternity be lost;" and while the virtuous are admired the vicious are despised by friends and foes. You are a probationary mortal, placed in this world to be tried in the fire: if you retain your integrity, love your father and father and your God: perhaps he will take you to himself before you see many of the storms of life, for there are thousands of graves in the Church-yard not so long as you are; therefore prepare to meet your God, for at an hour you least expect the Son of Man cometh. You may think you have little need of the consolations of religion, but know the day may come when friends will forsake and foes surround you, God only knows what tribulations await you. Do not therefore wander from God, if you do, sin will pierce you with many sorrows. Venerate your parents, for they seek your welfare, love them for they are your best earthly friends, and as submission to their injunctions is strictly required by laws human and divine, obey them with cheerfulness and delight, for they love you affetionately and labour for your accommodation incessantly. Place your dependence on God, for independent of him you can receive no good thing. Peruse the Scriptures, for in them you will see the way to heaven delineated: but remember while you read, that it is not the readers or hearers of the word, but the doers alone shall be rewarded with eternal benediction. Read the advice of a great and good man on his death-bed to his son, Solomon, my son, know thou the God of thy fathers, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imagination of the thoughts; if thou seek him he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever."-I would also advise you to be obedient to your teachers, and improve your time in gaining a liberal education; for it will be of great utility to you in your journey through life; but if you will not attend to learning, nor obey your teachers, and break your parents' commands with impu nity, then take heed! beware! the day of ruin is at hand: your golden moments being spent in idleness and dissipation, which should have been consecrated to the service of God, and obedience to your parents, complicated disease will seize your person, infamy your character, and desperation your tortured mind: in you will the proverb be literally verified, to wit: "Procrastination is the thief of time;" your friends being offended, your relatives dis gusted, your tender parents' grey hairs. brought down with sorrow to the grave through your misconduct, poverty in conjunction with despair, will consequently bring up the rear, and seize upon the poor ruined, wretched, forlorn, disobedient or phan, who finds in his abandoned condition (having accelerated his own premature fate.) "No eye to mark his sufferings with a tear,, C |