world, in which this difference will be made. Direct his mind to those plainer evidences of a future ftate, which he may find in the holy fcriptures; not only in the declarations which they contain, but alfo in the facts which they record relative to Jefus Chrift, who died, rofe and afcended, and now lives in glory.

Tell him, that he is a fallen creature. And that he may be apprized of the finful inclinations and corrupt tendencies of his heart, lead him to compare himself with the divine law in its purity and perfection. Tell him how fin enteredinto our nature, and death into our world; even by the revolt of the firft parent of our race. Inftruct him in the ftrictness of the divine law, which condemns, and muft in its nature condemn every tranfgreffion of, or deviation from its own commands. Hence lead him to fee, that by the deeds of the law no man can be juftified before God, or claim a reward at his hands; but, on the contrary, every foul, confidered in himself, and in relation only to the law, lies under guilt and condemnation.

Tell him, that there is a Saviour provided for finners; who this Saviour is and what he has done. Teach him, that God, in his boundlefs compaffion to fallen men, fent down from heaven his divine fon, who, being manifefted in our flesh, obeyed the precepts and fuffered the penalty of the law for us; wrought wonders to prove his heavenly miffion; marked the way to heaven by his doctrines; exemplified in his own life that manner of life which he has injoined on us; and, after his death on the crofs, rofe again and gave many infallible proofs of the reality of his refurrection, then afcended to heaven to prepare a place for us, and there lives to make interceffion for them who come to God by him. Teach him, that, through the righteousness and interceffion of this Saviour, the

greatest finners may obtain the pardon of fin, and the life to come.

Tell him what he must do to be faved; that he muft believe on the Lord Jesus Chrift, the Saviour whom God has fent; that faving faith in Chrift is nothing less than a hearty consent to, and compliance with his gofpel; that it includes a perfuafion of his divine miffion, a love of his heavenly doctrines, a fubmiffion to his holy precepts, a conformity to his excellent example, a repentance of known fin, and a refolution and care to walk in newness of life; that this faith purifies the heart, works by love, and forms a new creature; that confequently no man can justly pretend to be a believer in Chrift, as long as he indulges a temper, and leads a life oppofite to the gospel of Chrift; that true faith is only that, which is accompanied with repentance from dead works, and a life devoted to the fervice of God.

Tell him, that faith is the gift of God; a fruit of divine opperation; a confequence of God's opening the heart. This is the doctrine of fcripture. In the finful and corrupt nature of fallen man there is an oppofition to the fpiritual and holy defign of the gofpel. This oppofition must be conquered; this enmity must be fubdued; pride must be brought down; the ftupid heart must be awak ened; prejudices against the truth must be removed. How fhall the word produce thefe great effects? It must come as a sword in the hand of the fpirit. It must come with demonstration of the fpirit and with power. It is mighty only through God. Therefore allow not your young man to indulge the vain felf-flattery, that believing to his own falvation is no more than what he may do at any time, when he may fee occafion; and hence be led to imagine,. that an early attention to his

falvation is needlefs; but put him in remembrance that, since faith is the gift of God and a fruit of the fpirit, and fince the fpirit's moft ufual time to work is the period of youth, it highly concerns him to listen to the calls of grace, comply with the motions of the fpirit, and engage in the work of his falvation now in this peculiarly acceptable time, left being hardened through the deceitfulness of fin, and through an evil heart of unbelief, he depart from the living God.

Tell him how he muft feek the gift of divine grace. Since faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, he must frequently read, diligently hear, and carefully examine this word; attend to the evidences of its truth and the importance of its contents; confider his own immediate concern in its difcoveries; pray for divine direction and illumination; guard against the temptations which would harden him in the practice of his fins and divert him from the care of his foul. Caution him against evil company, dangerous amusements, and the follies, vanities and Tufts which are especially incident to his age. In

ftruct him to feek the favour of his maker immediately, earnestly, conftantly and perfeveringly, and yet to feek it humbly, and with a fenfe of his unworthiness.

Tell him of the fins which, you fee, moft easily befet him, and from which, you apprehend, his greatest danger arifes ; warn him to avoid them; furnish him with arguments against them; represent to him the destructive influence they will have on his reputation, comfort, intereft, and especially on his foul; fhow him, how they harden the heart, wafte the confcience, grieve the spirit, defeat the word, difhonor God, provoke his wrath, and terminate in mifery. Point out to

him the baleful influence of his evil communication and example to corrupt the hearts, viciate the morals, and ruin the fouls of others; hold up to his view the awful judgment of God against those who corrupt the earth with their abominations. The fmoke of their torment will afcend forever and ever; and the faints will give glory to God for his righteous judgment.

Tell him of his duty in its various branches; the duty of fear, truft, refignation and obedience which he owes to God; of faith, gratitude and love which he owes to the redeemer; of benevolence, truth, juftice, condefcenfion and peaceablenefs, which he owes to mankind; of sobriety, charity, temperance and humility, which he owes to himself. Represent to him the beauty, amiableness and importance of thefe virtues. Whatfoever things are true, juft, pure, honeft, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy, bid him think on these things.

Tell him that he muft die. He is apt to put away the thoughts of death. Urge him to confider, that death is as certainly appointed for him, as it was for his ancestors, who are already gone to the grave; that, though he is now in the bloom of youth and vigour of health, he is no more fure of life, than his grandfire who stoops with age and bends on his staff-apply for his awakening the deaths of others, and especially the deaths of the young-prefs upon him the wife man's exhortation, "Whatfoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work in the grave, whither thou goeft."

Finally. Tell him of an approaching judgment, at which both fmall and great muft ftand before God. Remind him that God will judge the fecrets of all hearts-will disclose the hidden things

of darkness will try every man's work of what fort it is will render to all according to their deeds whether good or evil to them, who by patient continuance in well doing have fought for glory, honour and immortality; eternal life: but to them who have not obeyed the truth, but have obeyed unrighteoufnefs; indignation and wrath. If you fee him, in contempt of all your warnings, ftill refolved to walk in his own ways, and in the fight of his own eyes, bid him remember, that for all these things God will bring him into judg

ment.

Thefe are the fubjects on which you should talk: to the young, and to which you should often call: their attention.

And now, that I may difcharge a part of my own duty, I turn myfelf to the young. You have seen that it is the duty of parents, minifters, the aged, and all who regard your happiness, often to speak to you. And furely, if it is our duty to speak, it is yours to hear us, when we fpeak. If you will not hear, we may as well be filent.. We: fhall, indeed, thus deliver our own fouls; but we fhall aggravate the deftruction of yours. Therefore hear inftruction, be wife and refuse it not. Be of a teachable difpofition. Receive our commandments humbly; take our reproofs thankfully; regard our counfels seriously; if you doubt their propriety, examine them honeftly, and pro pofe your objections modeftly; if you find them to be juft and pertinent, follow them confcientioufly. Confider, weigh and apply the things: which have been fpoken in your hearing..

There is a God, who made and preferves you : fear and love him with all your hearts; honour and obey him in all your ways.. You have im、 mortal: fouls, which muft live, and be happy or