ought not to hinder you from being loved: nor should those hinder them from being respected. They should interpret candidly the Sallies of your Inconfiderateness: and you in return, fhould pafs over the little Failures in Point of Temper, which Infirmities may render very excufable in them; and bear with the Restraints of poffibly too great Caution, Parfimony and Regularity: though in general their long Experience must have made them better Judges of thefe Points, than you are as yet. But indeed it will for the most Part be in your own Power, to take off thefe Reftraints from yourselves in a great Measure, if not entirely. Check but that Levity, which raises in them

you;

Sufpicions of behave fo, that you may fafely be trusted; and endeavour to be agreeable to them, as they do continually to be useful to you: and all will be well. Your Sprightlinefs and gay Humour was unquestionably defigned in fome Degree to comfort and enliven their declining Age. Be not unwilling therefore to spend fome Share of it that Way: but bestow a little of your Chearfulness upon them, in the Seafon when you have Plenty of it, and you will give them a great deal of Pleasure, when they want it very much. It is

a truly

a truly good-natured Part to do fo. It is a proper Gratitude for the many Kindneffes and Advantages, which all young People have received from their Friends of riper Years. And they may make you large Amends for it, often in your worldly Interefts, but almost conftantly in fuch Information and Direction, as will do you more Service, than all your Agreeablenefs can afford them Delight. Probably it is not long, that they may continue with you. Study to profit as much as you can by them, before you are left to yourselves and give them such a Prospect of your doing well, that they may quit the World with Comfort. In every common Art and Bufinefs, you fhew great Regard to experienced Inftructors: and can they fail to be of proportionable Use in the Science of conducting Life, the most important and most difficult of all others? Befides, the Respect, which you are now perhaps unwilling to pay, you will in Time be very uneafy, if you do not receive. Therefore preserve a Rule of Behaviour, that you will one Day find your own Account in; and fuffer it not, by your Fault, to be loft out of the World in the mean while.

If

I have now gone through my Defign. in the Profecution of it, I have urged Motives of a temporal, as well as a fpiritual Nature, fo hath the Scripture in a Multitude of Places. And if, together with greater Duties, I have recommended fome of leffer Moment; and, amongst other Faults, cautioned against feveral, which may commonly be thought not to amount to Sins: yet whoever hath a just Concern for those, who are fetting out upon the Journey of Life, will think they need every useful Admonition for the Way. And it is highly requifite, that all Persons, especially all young Perfons, fhould cherish, even in fmaller Inftances, that Sobernefs and Rightness of Mind, which elfe will foon be neglected in more important Matters: following confcientiously that Injunction of the Apostle, with which I conclude. Finally, Brethren, whatfoever Things are true, whatsoever Things are honourable, whatsoever Things are lovely, whatfoever Things are of good Report:-Thefe Things do: and the God of Peace fhall be with you.

e Phil. iv. 8, 9.

SER

་

SERMON V.

PROV. xvi. 31.

The hoary Head is a Crown of Glory, if it be found in the Way of Righteoufness.

ONG Life is what all Men naturally

je defire and yet to most no Part of Life seems to have much Happiness in it; and that Part least of all, to which living long brings them. In their younger and middle Years, between Business and Pleasure, they amuse themselves with tolerable Succefs. But old Age difqualifies them by Degrees from relishing either: and at the fame Time, that it takes away their Supports, adds to their Burthen too; by many Infirmities of Body and Mind, which often make them difagreeable or contemptible to others, and uneafy to themselves. Besides, in the former Stages of their Journey, Expectation of fomewhat better to follow, VOL. III. bears

G