the counsels of the wise and experienced for my help, may I walk in the way of truth and holiness; my soul prospering in all goodness, and my life being adorned with the fruits of righteousness. Preserve me, O Lord, and guide me, and rule over me, that I may never wander from Thy truth and Thy righteous laws; that I may never abuse Thy goodness, but cultivate and exhibit the genuine spirit of unfeigned piety. Solid, real, and decided in religion; not mistaking a shadow for substance; humble, sober, uniform, persevering, and open in the profession of the truth; may I live to Thy honour and glory, my own salvation, and the good of many. Grant this, I beseech Thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Redeemer and Advocate. Amen. : છે. THE WISE COURSE. "Pitch thy behaviour low; thy projects high; Herbert. "If heaven be my home, and Christ my way, I will learn to know my way, ere I haste to travel to my home. He that runs hastily in a way he knows not, may come speedily to a home he loves not. If Christ be my way, and heaven my home, I will rather endure my painful walk, than want my perfect rest. I more esteem my home than my journey: my actions shall be led by knowledge, my knowledge be followed by actions. Ignorance is a bad mother to devotion, and idleness a bad steward to knowledge." Warwick's Spare Minutes. IF the matter of first importance is, to be true Christians, the matter of next importance is, that true Christians should be judicious Christians: for unless they be such, they do not prosper in piety, they do not adorn religion as they ought, and they have not that influence in the world which they ought to have. Let it also be observed, that real Christians by injudicious conduct, not only fail to do good, but they also do much harm; for they strengthen the prejudices of the world against the gospel of Christ. Bear with me, then, my young readers, while I advance a few directions which may not at present be in all respects palatable, especially if you be lively and sanguine, but of which you will learn the value as you proceed in life. 66 I most certainly wish you to be altogether Christians, entirely devoted to God and to His service according to the gospel of His Son. "Follow," as Caleb did, the Lord your God wholly." Put yourselves completely under the government and guidance of the Gospel. It is not possible to be too religious. You cannot love God, believe in Christ, be led by the Spirit, employ your faculties, time, and talents by the laws of Scripture, too much, too unreservedly, too uniformly. 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. But it is possible to mix human nature with our piety; that is, to corrupt our piety by human passions and imaginations, and to diminish the excellence and beauty of our character by the fruits of those passions and imaginations. Be true and entire Christians; be also wise and judicious Christians and therefore guard against every thing that may debase your piety. Does a wise pilgrim wander from one place to another, continually leaving his path, from the impulse of caprice, or to gratify his taste? No: he advances in as direct a line as he can, and that calmly, firmly, perseveringly. Imitate the pilgrim. Is this a cold direction? However you may think or feel at present, you will find that your peace, honour, and usefulness very much depend upon your attending to it.-But allow me to give you a few of my cold directions. 1. Remember Caution. Where and when? you ask and I answer, In all places and at all times. "Take heed" is a scriptural expression. Do not hastily praise or censure. admit notions or adopt measures. Do not hastily Sensible of influenced by what you see or hear. your dangers, of your inexperience, of the deceitfulness of things, of inviting voices, paths, and objects, be cautious, in public, in private, and habitually. 2. Remember Silence. I do not enjoin you to be altogether silent in religious matters. That would be absurd. But I mean to say, that religion, especially in early life, when so little can be known of it, and when the feelings are apt to be vehement, is more a subject for calm thought than it is for fluent language. I am inclined to think, that when our tongues are very voluble, our minds are very unreflecting. Duly consider the sacredness and importance, the majesty and solemnity of sacred things, and take care that you understand well what you are going to speak about, and then speak as much as you please; for you will speak with modesty and diffidence: and that is all that I wish to inculcate upon you. 3. Remember Thought. Happy is he, whether young or old, who thinks much, and calmly, and deeply, and habitually in religion. To meditate on what we read and hear, is the way to profit by it. To think on measures before we adopt them, is the way to prevent many evils, and to do more good. By thought we learn the nature of things; their relations, operations, and ends. By thought we restrain imaginations and feelings; we strengthen our principles; and we give a solidity to our character. A man of thought becomes a man of understanding: and he is respected and influential in the world. 4. Remember Reading, "Give attendance to reading"-thus St. Paul directed Timothy. You may read too much, or in a careless manner, or what is unprofitable. He who reads his Bible most in a right manner, bids fair to be the best character. As to other books be select. Read what deserves reading; understand it; digest it ; apply it to yourselves. Thus your minds will be enlarged, and furnished with valuable knowledge. It is our duty to improve our faculties as much as we can. To be real Christians is essential to our welfare in addition to this, to be well-informed Christians is very desirable, very important. 5. Remember the Reality of things. Do not mistake your own notions for truth; your feelings, |