the character and the influence of a sound and well-balanced mind. Leave it to those who have wilfully resolved to set the apostolic injunction aside, "Let your moderation be known unto all men," to mount every running hobby that comes along, and anathematize their fathers because they do not mount behind them and ride too.

But let not prudence degenerate to a selfish policy, nor moderation to pusillanimity. The more intense your zeal in every good cause, the better, provided it is wisely directed.

The

6. Discipline your tongue to right habits. "It is an unruly member, full of deadly poison;" and it is said that "no man can tame it." If one man cannot forcibly tame another's tongue, yet every man can do much towards taming his own. habits of your tongue will have much to do in forming your character, and in determining your relation to society." "By thy words shalt thou be justified, and by thy words shalt thou be condemned." How soon will a chaste and discerning mind detect a man's character by his language! Suppose for instance, that you are on a journey. If anything low, vulgar, slanderous, irreverent or profane, anything that discovers want of Christian principle or of good breeding, drops from your lips, all the more cultivated and pure-minded persons present, will instantly notice it and avoid you. You will thus be exiled from their confidence and

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society; while the vulgar and the wicked will be attracted towards you. All the elevating influence of the one kind of society, you will thus exchange for all the debasing influence of the other. And so it will be with you, in every situation through life. "The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself."

7. Form the habit of graduating all your plans and shaping your conduct upon the broad scale of eternity. Live in view of living forever. Take your relations to God and to eternity into view, in all your calculations. This implies the loftiest and noblest range of thought, the soundest exercise of judgment.

In forming this habit, if the favor of God is more important to you than all other objects, you will always keep it most in view; if a treasure in his kingdom is worth more than any earthly inheritance, you will habitually seek it first. If your soul is of more value than your body, you will not sacrifice its integrity, growth, purity and glory, to sensual indulgencies. You will give to God your best thoughts and warmest devotion; to the interests of his kingdom, your steadfast service; to his word, your most earnest study; to his grace, your cordial acceptance; and to his law, your constant obedience.

You will sacredly appropriate the entire Sabbath

to its holy duties, whether of devotion, religious reading and study, teaching, public worship, or Christian conversation, with a fidelity that will so warm and baptize your heart in its spirit, as to make its weekly return to you a joyful antepast of Heaven. Every morning and evening through the week, will also witness your more private devotions of the family and the closet.

In all your intercourse with your fellow-beings, you will habitually regard and treat them as the subjects of an influence proceeding from your words and actions, to effect their everlasting character and condition.

You will form the habit of valuing property, intellect, learning, power, influence, and all other things, chiefly as they may subserve the interests of eternity; regarding this world with all its possessions and pleasures, as swiftly passing away.

You will also study an habitual resignation to losses, disappointments, sickness, afflictions, and whatever evils may befall you by unavoidable causes, assured that all these things are ordered by a wise benevolence and "work together for good to them that love God."

Proceeding in this way, the longer you live the more habitually will you look upon eternity as your home; upon God as your portion; upon Christ as your Saviour; upon yourself as a pilgrim and sojourner here; and upon Heaven as your per

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fect and happy rest forever. You will look upon all mankind as your brethren, moving onward to the same eternity with you; and you will seek to do them good to the extent of your ability, both in respect to temporal and eternal interests. In a word, influenced by faith in the verities of the gospel, you will endeavor to form all your habits of conduct upon the great principles of eternal morality.

Having surmounted first difficulties, your path will become easier and more pleasant. It will become natural and easy for you to do right, unnatural and difficult to do wrong. You will find that "wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace." For if it is a painful truth, that they who are accustomed to do evil through the period of youth, will not easily learn to do well in old age, it is a happy truth, that they who are accustomed to do well through the period of youth, will not easily learn to do evil in old age. No. Their habits have become their inwrought character, their second nature, and they will go with them to the grave and forever.

Having in the days of your vigor formed the habit of referring your cares, wants, trials, blessings and hopes to God; of living to do his will, and of confidently reposing all your temporal and eternal interests in his hands; of thus reducing the senti

ment, "My Father, thou art the guide of my youth," to a living habit, it will be neither in you to change, nor in God to cast you off. You may be called, like Joseph, David, Samuel, Daniel, Nehemiah, and many others whom the Lord has made perfect through sufferings, to pass through great and severe trials; but the trial of your faith will only serve to elevate your character and make your last end like Job's, more glorious than the first. Through all the way you will hear the voice of your almighty and well-known Friend, saying to you, "Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee; for I am the Lord thy God." And finally death itself, to the wicked so dreadful, will be your eternal gain. Having by a righteous life accomplished the end of your existence upon earth, and having glorified God in turning many to righteousness, you will "shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars forever and ever."