our view, from which all their real excellencies are tranfcribed? Such are the confiderations which cool, abftracted reafon, will fuggeft, and, without much exertion, multiply continually. They have, indeed, their effect in fully convincing us of error and inconfiftency, but they apply to the understanding only. We must have higher motives to invigorate our piety; motives that reach the heart. Accordingly when we confider the fupreme Being as our Father, to whom, as children, we look up for protection, and our God, on whom our eternal happinefs depends, fuch diftant arguments are loft, and the foul is agitated by hope and fear, by awful reverence and anxious joy.

THIS indeed is the grand principle upon which all religion is built; that we are foon to be the objects of divine punishment or reward. It could hardly be believed, if experience did not too often confirm the fact, that a rational being, living with this awful truth impreffed F 4

upon

upon his mind, fhould be inattentive to its confequences, and fhew by his conduct, that he is indifferent to thofe duties which the relation between him and his Maker, as well as the condition of human life, indifpenfibly require,

We are fufficiently affured, that our continuance here will be but for a fhort time; and yet the generality of mankind. make fuch provifion in this world, as though it was to laft for ever. All their thoughts, their wifhes and defires seem to center here. Here is their "treasure, and

here their heart is alfo." Though the fcene is continually changing before their eyes; though a year never paffes, but the remembrance of fome that are no more, fhould warn them of the clofe of life; yet on they rush, with impetuous ardor, still chafing the gay phantoms of hope, and admitting with eager joy, the visionary pleasures of every new defire; in the mean time, the calls of piety are seldom heard, though morality, perhaps, might,

in fome measure, be practifed under the form of worldly policy, or the odious mask of felf-love,

AMID fuch variety of pursuits, in the heat of fo many eager and contending paffions, the heart can admit no impreffions, from experience, fufficiently powerful to engage our ferious attention, nor any reflections from reafon, of weight enough to regulate the paffions, or affuage the ardor of worldly defires. Thus are the interefts of eternity often neglected, and the whole foul engroffed with the things of this world.

MAN, indeed, is fubject to a variety of groveling appetites and vain defires. He is furrounded alfo with objects that strike the fenfes, and provoke their gratification. But these were neceffary to conftitute a life of difcipline and trial; and we must not forget, that amidst a variety of temptations and allurements that would lead us into evil, there are objects alfo that court the attention of our intellectual powers,

and

and that are not unworthy of beings formed for immortality. Thefe, it is true, afford gratifications of a very different nature, and require the voluntary exercife of the mind to difcover their intrinfic excellence and ultimate good. Yet how many feize, with eager fondness, the tinfel joys that glitter before their eyes, and neglect those lasting treasures which are to come, and which true wisdom would discover! How many act, in fpiritual concerns, like the foolish and extravagant prodigal, who parts with his patrimony in reverfion, for what is fufficient only to purchase the pleasures of the prefent hour!

THESE reflections, I am fenfible, are but ill-fuited to the bulk of mankind, who, while the world fmiles around them, or prefents no scenes of ftriking calamity, are not difpofed to direct the attention of their minds to any other object. They glide filently down the ftream of time, careless of what rocks may thatter their bark, and unmindful of that awful mo

ment,

ment, in which they must lapfe into the tide of eternity. So far are many from being interested in their duty towards God, and thofe meditations which enforce it, that their frame of mind feems totally averse to religion; at beft, they turn from it, as from a matter of little importance, that might be done, or left undone, just as it suits the prevailing humor.

LET me hope that these reflections do not apply to your conduct. May it be your supreme care, amidst the neceffary occupations of life, to cultivate and deferve the favor of the Almighty. But in order to fulfil a duty of fuch confequence, you must inure yourselves to that difcipline, which is neceffary, indeed, to teach you its IMPORTANCE, as well as to enforce its PRACTICE. We become attached to objects, only by fuffering them to dwell on the mind with pleasure. We think it neceffary to allot a large fhare of our time to other duties, let there be stated periods alfo for our duty towards God, The mind can never

be