We look upon the young as those who seem to expect that they are to gather roses and violets in every path, and to find no weeds and brambles. So much perhaps, in general, do they look upon the bright side of things, that they forget the mingled and imperfect nature of all below. They anticipate sunshine and serenity, and do not think of the darkness with which they will often be surrounded, or of the tempest which will often rage about them. Their eyes sparkle in joy; their voices are voluble and musical; their hearts are light. They may remind us of birds who have recently left the obscure shelter of the nest, who are gazing on the wide and lovely creation, or trying their sportive wings in the gale, and are free from all apprehension of danger. How far this statement is correct, the youthful reader will determine. A comparatively few young persons of sedate minds, who indulge in no gay fancies; or a few young persons of tender and pensive hearts, who delight more in what is sable than in what is splendid, and in whom fears are more powerful than hopes; do not materially affect a general view.

Human life may be viewed in two respects what it is in general, and what it may be to particular individuals. As to the latter point, it is evident that the particular portion or lot of individuals is exceedingly varied. Some walk in a path that may be accounted smooth and flowery: they enjoy wealth, health, and friends: they have all

things at hand: their desires are anticipated. But others walk in a rough and thorny path: they are familiar with sickness, or poverty, or bereavement. No young persons can know, from their present circumstances, what their future life will prove. A bright morning is often succeeded by a stormy day: and, on the contrary, a stormy morning may be followed by a calm noon and a pleasant evening.

But if I were to speak of Human Life in general, I would not draw a picture that is enchanting with fictitious splendour, or one that is dismal and repulsive by fictitious gloom. The bright musings of the cheerful and lively, on the one hand, and the dark musings of the pensive and timid, on the other, may never be realized. Those who promise themselves the enjoyment of abundant delight may, in the providence of God, be called to tread an unpleasant path, with weary feet and with sorrowful hearts and those who see little before them but trouble, change, and trial, may have a large portion of enjoyment.

But let the present question be, What, without entering into particulars, is Human Life? I reply, It is a plain and sober reality-a mingled course of events-a series of suffering and enjoyment

-a time of toil and duty-a period connected with weighty obligations and serious responsibilities-a discipline, an education for other worldsthe vestibule to the temple-the brief preface to a volume that has no end. Human Life leads to

Eternity to unchanging happiness, or to unchanging woe.

1. Human Life is a sober reality. I assert it to be so, in opposition to fantastic dreams and vain expectations. Let any one, young or adult, indulge himself in the gay expectations of fancy with respect to any future period of life, and he will find when the period arrives, that his expectations were at least in a great measure groundless. The Fairyland which he had decorated with all that is bright and enchanting, is found to be a common field, with little or nothing more upon it than the ordinary productions of the earth. The fancies of today are generally destroyed by the experience of to-morrow. We may refuse to get wisdom by experience, and proceed to make further experiments: but it will only issue in repeated disappointment. Life, I grant, may have what may be called its poetic scenes; but in its regular course it will be found plain prose-a repetition of similar schemes and labours, of the same fears and hopes, of the same joys and sorrows. I speak thus, not to make you dissatisfied or dispirited, but to repress the vagaries of imagination, and to prevent the innumerable evils that spring from mistaken views and feelings for do not vain expectations respecting the future, lead us, among other results, to neglect the due improvement of the present?

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2. Human Life is a mingled scene. It is idle work to draw a picture of mere darkness and dis

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tress for life undoubtedly has its light and joys. It is equally an idle work to draw a picture of mere splendour and delight; for life has its gloom and anguish. I will suppose that yours will prove what may be accounted the average lot of human beings in your rank and station. It is most probable, therefore, that you will have a chequered path to tread-a mingled cup to drink. You will have ample reason to rejoice in your many blessings; and you will often be called to sigh and grieve in trials and vexations. Much, as to this point, depends on the allotments of an all-wise Providence. Much also depends on yourselves; on the prudence, or the imprudence, which you may exhibit for as the former will exempt you from many sorrows, so will the latter multiply and aggravate them. In a word, while you anticipate many joys, do not omit the anticipation of many sorrows.

3. Human Life is a course of toil and duty. Supposing that by your temporal circumstances you may be exempted from what is properly called toil or labour, yet every day of man is, or ought to be, a day of duty. Still, therefore, it may be justly said, that labour is the lot of man. There will be a singular contrast between the dreams of leisure, ease, independence, and enjoyment with which you may now amuse yourselves, and the real experience of future life, when as each morning returns you see a day of labour before you, and

when as each evening arrives, you find yourselves weary and exhausted.

But whatever be the case respecting toil, the yoke of duty cannot be shaken off.

You are, and you always will be, the creatures of moral obligation; the creatures of duty: and duty implies activity. There are duties which we owe to God, to man, and to ourselves: and none of them can be neglected with impunity. Man is not born into the world to please himself—to do his own will, and to make his existence here a period of gratification— but to discharge his duties; and these are multiplied with the different relations which he may sustain in his progress through life.

4. Human Life stands connected with the most serious responsibility. Man is always an accountable being. If you were summoned into eternity in your youthful years, would you not have to give an account of yourselves to God? This is a most weighty consideration-one that you ought to cherish. But if you live fifty or sixty years in the world, you will have to render an account to God of the manner in which you have spent that time. If you forget this, and waste your time and abuse your talents in folly and vanity, the consequences will be awful. God is a gracious Father; but He is also a righteous Judge. The last day will be a day of horror and confusion to unfaithful souls. The final judgment may be now disregarded or for