fecting himself in his mother tongue, another will acquire a knowledge of all the languages in use upon the earth.

2. Let us take a view of acquired talents. These are such as education furnishes; such as are the fruits of domestic intercourse, or are insensibly attained by familiar association; and here, again, we perceive a vast variety in their distribution.

Pious parents claim pre-eminence under this class. To be the descendants of such is a privilege none can fully appreciate; and for which we cannot be sufficiently thankful. But this does not comprehend all the advantages I have enumerated. Education is dispensed in different degrees. Some parents cannot read, and their children never will; others mean well, and are anxious for their children's improvement; but they may not have the time or the ability to teach them themselves, or to employ others for the purpose; while some are blessed with the most extended opportunities of acquiring knowledge; and no pains, no expenses are spared, to promote their improvement; every passing occurrence, every incident which domestic life presents is turned to their advantage, to the culture of their minds, and the formation of their manners.

3. I pass to a third class;-external talents. By this expression, I mean those of patrimony, fortune, influence; and these are talents of high importance. The leisure afforded by a competent fortune, to accumulate knowledge, is an invaluable privilege; added to which, the anxiety for the provision and support of a family, being in a great measure removed, renders the mind free, and capable of attending with propriety and interest to higher pursuits. Oh, that those in high stations would reflect on the many privileges with which they are favoured, and improve their many talents for the general good! Did they but know the pleasure which results from benevolence, from acting as stewards over God's household, how gladly would they adopt such a conduct! There are those who with a breath could raise the dejected and wretched to comfort; could bring forward the neglected orphan, and "cause the widow's heart to sing for joy." Influence has likewise peculiar advantages; it pervades every gradation of rank; it is a principle (as a sensible and learned writer well expresses it) which carries on its operations in secret, the effects of which are always superior to the cause."

4. Let us consider another class; namely,

political talents.

I do not mean to view this expression in the sense which modern wrangling has given to the, term, but as it is originally derived from polis, a city. I allude to the privileges of citizenship, or the rights of community; and surely we, in this country, may justly be said to possess these in their fullest extent. How are arts and sciences cultivated in our land, and the benefits they convey circulated to every individual! What advantages we enjoy in the perfection attained in the art of printing! Once it was wholly unknown, and for five thousand years remained undiscovered! How difficult was it then to procure copies of the Sacred Scriptures! Now every house has its Bible, and the poorest may read the way to heaven in his own language. How valuable are equitable laws, and equal jurisprudence! May we ever prize such privileges, and be ready to risk our fortunes, our interest, our lives, if necessary, in their defence!

5. But there is a fifth class, which rises infinitely superior to all I have yet mentioned; I mean religious talents. All my former distinctions blend into each other, and all lead to this grand point. As in the rainbow there are points which exhibit distinct colours, yet there are others, where these colours are so

blended and softened into each other, as to baffle the nicest eye to distinguish the line which bounds them. But the class of talents which I am now to consider, rises so infinitely superior to any other privilege, that we can never be mistaken in their nature. If we only take a glance at the four religions now existing upon this earth, we shall feel the infinite advantages we are favoured with, and be struck with the value of the privileges we possess. See the poor Heathen bowing down to his idol, and spending the whole day in shaping and adorning the image he is afterwards to worship. View the Mahometan, raised above idolatry, but placing more dependence upon washings, and all other external ceremonies, than upon purity of conduct, and rectitude of heart. Behold the Jew, his religion descending from Heaven, but not designed for perpetuity, merely intended to prefigure a brighter dispensation, and however excellent in its sanctions, however wise in its political economy, only "the shadow of good things to come;" then turn to the Christian, and view in him the perfect pattern of religious excellence; every prediction fulfilled; every promise verified, every hope realized. He enjoys the full radiance of that light of which former dispensations only beheld the first beams, and basks in the bright sunshine of

meridian glory. Are not these privileges? Would time permit, I might subdivide the christian world, and point out the peculiar advantages we enjoy as Protestants, over those educated in the darkness of Popery. We are not compelled to eat a wafer, believing it to be a God; we are not obliged to worship in an unknown tongue. We may study our Bibles, without taking out a licence to permit us to read them; and we run no risk of suffering the flames of the Inquisition, for daring to be heretical. The liberty of conscience we enjoy, is one of the greatest of our privileges; let us see to it that it is properly improved!

I have thus briefly enlarged upon the five different kinds of talents intrusted to man; but I cannot quit this head of discourse without mentioning one, which is inferior to none of them, but which greatly enhances the value of them all, I mean time. I speak of it in a monosyllable, that it may more easily be remembered.

TIME. The value of this gift can perhaps never be fully appreciated; but if we reflect a moment on its importance, we must be struck with the advantages it yields. How much do we gain by experience, by a knowledge of the world, and by intercourse with mankind! All these are the benefits resulting from time. Those, perhaps, can best feel its value, who