it is our business to qualify them to act their part with fidelity and usefulness. Disinterestedness and benevolence, meekness and humility, patience and charity, diligence and constancy, should give direction and character to their conduct through the whole course of life, whatever station they may occupy, or whatever calling they may pursue. They must never be permitted to suppose that in order to be happy, they must be rich and great: that they must shine in costly equipage or riot in voluptuousness. On the contrary they should be deeply impressed with the idea that they can be happy only in the possession and exercise of wisdom and virtue, and in the discharge of those social, moral and religious duties which God has placed before them.

It may seem unnecessary for me in this age and place of refinement, to say any thing in regard to literary and scientific pursuits but I must in this respect claim a little indulgence.

The time has come wherein it is a disgrace to be ignorant. Ignorance is disgraceful, because the path of knowledge is open to people of all classes. Sunday Schools, Free Schools, and other institutions, have been erected expressly for the purpose of extending the means of information to the destitute. It is also to be remembered with gratitude that through the benevolence of individuals and societies the indigent youth may obtain even a collegiate education.

Now, considering how important it is to have a good education, and how many powerful motives there are to urge us to the pursuit of knowledge; is it not a disgrace to be without it, or not to be in a way to obtain it? It is an incontestible evidence of stupidity and indolence. And if ignorance is a disgrace to the poor, what is it, rather what is it not, to those who are in easy or affluent circumstances? If in the former it is disgraceful, in the latter it must be highly criminal.

It should ever be remembered, that with our purity and happiness, we lost our knowledge: and that therefore ignorance is as much an effect of sin, as impurity and misery. Let us attend to this point for a few moments. How great was the knowledge of our first parents previous to their fall? So far was it superior to ours, that in ascertaining the properties of animate and inanimate nature, it was not necessary for them to pursue a long and tedious course of investigation by slow and inductive reasoning. They grasped the truth and apprehended the fitness of things without difficulty. But alas! what a fatal change did sin produce. Never in any case were the words of Young more appropriate. Seduced by the devil, they yielded to a criminal and foolish desire. They

Leaped at the stars, and fastened in the mud;
Grasped at glory, and sunk in infamy.

What profound ignorance followed the first transgressors aš a punishment for it, and as a wretched legacy entailed upon an un

fortunate race. Who does not see, that ignorance is a consequence of the fall? and who will not say that this consequence, as well as others, should be obviated as far as possible by an early education?

It is true, to acquire any considerable share of knowledge, much labour is necessary. It is also true that, while in our present imperfect state, in the pursuit of science we must be content to crawl from one truth to another, through a painful, and often long process of reasoning. But knowledge is so great a treasure, that when once it is gained, it compensates our toil a thousand fold.

It is obvious from a variety of considerations, that it is the duty of mankind to make the arts and sciences their study, as far as possible. Upon them, under God, depend, in a great measure, the prosperity and welfare of nations, communities and individuals. Indeed, if scientific and artificial improvement should be neglected, the barbarisms of former ages, with all their disgraceful train. would soon be upon us. To the arts and sciences as encouraged and fostered by religion, are we indebted for all those advantages whereby at this moment we are distinguished from the savage tribes of our western wilderness.

Knowledge is useful to all men, at all times, and under all circumstances. It is power, it is honour, it is riches, it is a neverfailing source of the most refined pleasure wherever it is properly applied. I never can believe, that ignorance, stupidity and indolence, can be a soil upon which happiness will thrive and grow. Although the man of knowledge, standing on an eminence, and having an extensive prospect of men and things, has many disquietudes to which the uninformed in the vale below are strangers, yet he has those delights also which infinitely transcend the most elevated conceptions of the rude and uncultivated.

Neither can I bring myself to believe, that the want of knowledge can ever be supplied by all other earthly blessings. Beauty, wit and strength, honour, pleasure and wealth, are too poor to be compared with it. The man, whose mind is well stored with useful knowledge, is qualified to be a blessing to others. He converses with himself; and therefore is prepared to bear himself company through the world. To him every surrounding object affords a lesson replete with instruction; and, when in solitude he makes the volumes treasured up in his own mind pleasing and profitable sources of entertainment.

Above all then, we should encourage our children in the pursuit of learning. What though they be not rich, Knowledge is far more valuable than silver and gold. If, in order to accumulate wealth, they must neglect the improvement of their minds, teach them to leave the trash to be scraped together by mean and sordid souls, who have not sufficient elevation of thought, nor dignity of feeling, to prompt them to intellectual improvement. In this

way they will ultimately find themselves the proprietors of,-Large and comprehensive souls, purified from vulgar fears, superstitions and prejudices: and capable of comprehending the works of man, and of understanding, in some measure at least, the works of God. A rich and flourishing mind, pregnant with inexhaustible sources of reflection and entertainment, may enjoy a perpetual spring of new delights, and the conscious dignity of superior intelligence.

But in our exertions to secure happiness to the rising generation, we should by no means stop short of religion. By religion is not meant, a mere set of notions, or a scheme of doctrine laid asleep in their minds, never to disturb, never to stimulate them to action; but a supreme love to God, which evinces itself by a corresponding course of conduct.

It is much to be regretted that so few parents and guardians duly consider this point. It is not unfrequently the case that we find them far more solicitous to make their children shine in the gaudy trappings of pride, than they are to make them useful citizens and happy followers of the Son of God. It is also a lamentable truth, that many parents encourage their offspring to seek happiness in the perishable things of earth. Probably this is the grand reason why so few find the object of their search. Let us then take a view of the situation of most men, that we may ascertain their disorder, and place before them their remedy; and also that we may preserve our children from needless toil and disappointment.

The grand object of pursuit among men is happiness. It is undoubtedly the strongest desire of our nature to obtain it. Indeed, according to some authors, there is a kind of innate principle in our nature, constantly urging us to this pursuit. But in the courses which mankind take for the attainment of this object, they meet with perpetual disappointment and mortification. Nevertheless, they still pursue-they make all possible speed, and inquire of every passenger, Who will shew us any good? But why are they thus disappointed? Because they fly to sources where happiness can never be found. And they fly to those sources because they have not received a suitable education. Probably they have been taught to expect it in sensual enjoyments; or they have never been sufficiently impressed with the necessity of seeking it only in the service and enjoyment of their Creator.

Behold the youth, as he leaves his friends and tutors, and makes his way into the world, to take his task and receive his portion, among his fellow actors on the stage of life. In the outset he is captivated by the scenes of mirth, gaiety and sprightliness which pass before him. He enters them in the full tide of expectation. For the moment he is diverted, but his divertisement passes away, and in the midst of jollity and laughter he finds that happiness is not the goddess that there presides. He next turns his attention to costly mansions and equipage, and fondly supposes the

object of his search, is there an inhabitant. But how soon does he find that she is not to be designated by a robe of many colours-is not the companion of greatness-is not the attendant of luxury and splendid equipage. He takes another turn: and entering farther into the world, he beholds all the kingdoms of the earth and the glory of them. Many ways of raising himself to glory are opened before him. Calling forth all his energies, he elevates himself on the pinions of ambition; and now that he is in honour he looks down with haughty contempt upon the crouching croud below. His eyes are dazzled ;-his ears are charmed; and in exultation he exclaims, I have reached my goal! There is none like me-So caressed, courted, flattered and followed. But deluded creature! how soon does his bit of riband wax old? How soon do all his titles and badges of honour lose their enchanting influence? And now that the farce is ended, he sees and feels like a man. And standing behind the curtain, while those without gaze, admire, and extol, he is familiar with reality, and sees nothing but naked ropes and blocks. Disgusted with intrigue and wearied with bustle, he comes to the conclusion that he has mistaken his way, and missed the object of his pursuit. Under these circumstances what must he do? He has rejoiced in his youth; walked in the ways of his heart and in the sight of his eyes; but after all he is unhappy. To him, happiness was never more remote. His best hopes are disappointed, and his dearest feelings mortified. Thus exhausted with disquietudes he sits down, and after casting many an angry glance upon surrounding objects, he curses his stars and deems himself alone in the Universe. In this situation he remains till, by a voice from heaven, he is taught the good and the right way. But is this declamation? or, is it sober truth? It is matter of fact, drawn from real life.

There is hardly any subject more exhausted, or that has afforded greater matter of argument and declamation, than the insufficiency of our earthly enjoyments. Every reformed sensualist, from Solomon down to our own times, has uttered more or less pertinent, as well as mournful reflections, on the emptiness of human pleasure, and the vanity of mortal pursuits. But, unfortunately, the many good things which have been said upon this subject, have been viewed as the ebullitions of disgust, arising from sated appetites, which could no longer relish the pleasures of sense, or from the vagaries of rude and splenetic men, who never tasted them at all; and therefore are not competent judges in the case. Matter of fact, however, contradicts this conclusion.

From what has been said upon this subject, it is manifest that great precaution should be used in the education of youth. Above all things they should be early taught where and when true happiness is to be found,-namely, In the religion of the Holy Jesus. A knowledge of arts and sciences may do much, very much for man; but it never can afford him that happiness for VOL. V.

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which his soul thirsts. Philosophers and politicians, poets and orators, lawyers and physicians, possess nothing worthy the name of happiness, until they rise into the philosophy of the Son of God, and become partakers of the divine nature. We must say then, that the religion of Christ should constitute a principal branch of education in all our Seminaries. It is not enough that the will of our children be seasonably subdued; nor is it sufficient that inducements to pride, revenge and voluptuousness, be kept from them while in childhood: but through every stage of their minority they should be trained to virtue, and disciplined to the humbling doctrines of the cross. Hence arises the importance of providing them with suitable books and teachers. With books, which will teach them the science of salvation, as well as those which will teach them to act with honour and advantage in this world and with teachers, who will take an interest in their spiritual as well as temporal welfare. Tutors who prefer the classics of Rome and Greece to the Holy Scriptures, are not qualified for their business. And those tutors too, who prefer the philosophy of men schooled in the principles of infidelity, to the philosophy of those Christians who have so happily united literature and religion, are by no means proper persons to have the superintendence of young and tender beings, whose character is to be formed for eternity, as well as for time.

And now, ye who are parents, reflect that you have been instrumental in bringing into existence beings not only fearfully and wonderfully made; but fearfully and wonderfully destined. For a few years your children will be under your instruction: and it is very probable that your conduct towards them during those few years, will determine their destiny to all eternity. How important then is your work, and how awful your accountability! Your children will shortly go from you into the world, like lambs among wolves. How numerous are the dangers to which they will be exposed, and how liable will they be to be ensnared and undone for ever. Before them-" honour will flaunt its fictitious trappings-wealth display its thousand imposing charms, and pleasure spread its impoisoned banquets." And if they be not properly guarded by sound principles, how easy a prey will they fall to those engines of darkness. Looking to God then for direction, do your uttermost. Train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And may the blessing of God attend your exertions.-Amen.

TRACT ANECDOTE.-RELATED BY MR. WARD.

Soon after I went to India, I distributed a number of tracts in a variety of villages. A man, hearing that a Missionary had left a tract at a certain house, felt a conviction on his mind that he was bound to read it. He therefore sent to request that he might pe