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Through the influence of this only, can a character be formed, which will lead one to act, and suffer, and resist wisely and honourably in every situation. This only can deliver man from the power of the world, and secure him from becoming the slave of circumstances and accidents. The essential truths of religion are those truths, which we know concerning GOD; and concerning ourselves, considered as immortal beings. It is religion which teaches us what we are, and on whom we depend; and which, widening immeasurably our sphere of view, discovers to us by far the most important of our relations, those which connect us with God, and with eternity. It is little to say that it is the most sublime, it is the most practical of all sciences. With these views of the importance of a religious education, I am about to speak upon this subject, and to state those essential truths, to which the attention of the young ought to be directed.

The foundation of all true religion is a belief of the existence and perfections of God. We must conceive of him, and represent him to the young, as the maker and preserver of all things, as a being on whom the whole creation is entirely and continually dependent; who is every where invisibly present, and knows all our thoughts and actions; from whom we receive all that we enjoy; to whom we must look for all that we hope; who is our constant benefactor, our Father in Heaven. The

feelings toward him, which should be first formed and cultivated in the minds of the young, are those of gratitude, love, and reverence. In endeavouring to impress them with these sentiments toward God, we ought to take advantage of those occasions when they are most cheerful and satisfied with themselves. It is then that his idea is to be presented to their minds. Should they be touched by the beauty or sublimity of nature, we may then endeavour to give them some just conceptions of that infinite spirit, whose agency is displaying itself on every side, and of whose presence all visible forms are the marks and symbols. When we teach them something respecting the immensity of the universe; that the portion of this earth with which they are acquainted, is only a very small part of an immense globe forever wheeling through void space; that this globe is but an inconsiderable thing, compared with others that are known to us; that the stars of heaven are a multitude of suns, which cannot be numbered, placed at distances from each other, which cannot be measured; we may then direct their thoughts to that power, by whom this illimitable universe was created, and is kept in motion; and who superintends all the concerns of every individual in every one of these myriads of worlds. When we point out to them any of the admirable contrivances of nature, which appear around us in such inexhaustible profu

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sion and variety; so that we tread them without thought under our feet; when we explain to them, that each of the countless insects of a summer's day is a miracle of curious mechanism; we can hardly avoid telling them, by whose wisdom these contrivances were formed, and by whose goodness their benevolent purposes were designed. When their hearts are opened by gladness, and their feelings spread themselves out, to find objects to which to cling; you may then, by a word or two, direct their thoughts to God as their benefactor. When the occasion is of importance enough to give propriety to the introduction of religious ideas, you may lead them in their sorrows to the consolation and hope which a belief in him affords. You may thus do what is in your power, to enthrone the idea of God in their minds, so that all the thoughts and affections shall pay homage to it. You may thus do what is in your power toward forming that temper of habitual devotion, to which God is continually revealing himself in his works, and in his providence. You may thus give the first impulse to those feelings of love, reverence, and trust, which connect a good man so strongly with God, that if it were possible for him to be deprived of the belief of his existence, it would be with the same feeling of horrour, with which he would see the sun darkening and disappearing from the heavens.

With just notions of God, we should endeavour to give the young, just notions, likewise, of their own nature and prospects. We are to teach them, that they are to exist forever; that death is only an introduction to a new state of things; that this life is intended by God to discipline and prepare us for the future; that our condition in the future life will depend upon our conduct here; and that the happiness of the good hereafter will be far more uninterrupted, and far more desirable, than any which is enjoyed on earth. Sublime and important as these truths are, so important, that all other truths not connected with religion become insignificant in comparison, they may be understood even by children. There are two purposes which we are to have in view in impressing them upon their minds. One is, to influence their conduct by a regard to the sanctions of the future life. And the other is, to produce those ennobling and joyful feelings, which are the result of habitually regarding ourselves as immortal beings, formed for continual improvement, and increasing happiness.

With regard to the first of these objects;-the rewards and punishments, the good and evil of the future life, should not be represented as in their nature of mere arbitrary appointment. They should be represented as the necessary consequen ces of our conduct; of the same character with

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those, which, under the moral government of God, follow it in this world. We should teach the young to observe the effects of their dispositions and actions, and to associate in their minds the former with the latter. We must teach them, that actions are not disconnected; that they link themselves together, and form habits, and that these habits draw us on to happiness or misery. We should endeavour to make them perceive that chain of moral causes and consequences, which sooner or later connects our condition with our character. Virtue is obedience to the will of God; and therefore it is of its nature to secure his favour; it is doing good to our fellow creatures; and therefore it is of its nature to obtain their love and respect; it is preferring in all cases a higher good to a meaner; though the former may be remote, and the latter may be present; and therefore it is our highest interest; it is the cultivation of those feelings and faculties whose objects will never be exhausted; and therefore it gives the promise of unceasing improvement. Vice, on the contrary, is a sacrifice of our taste for nobler gratifications, to a craving after those which are vile and temporary ; and therefore it is a wretched miscalculation; it is doing injury to our fellow creatures; and therefore it cuts us off from their sympathy and regard; it is disobedience to GOD;-a preference, therefore, of the dictates of our folly to the laws of In

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