dence that early picty may through divine affiftance be attained, and that if we feek it in fincerity, and with full purpose of heart, our fearch will not be in vain: "I love them," faith wifdom, "that love me, and they that feck me early fhall find me."* As an awakening inftance of the uncertain tenure we have of all things in this tranfitory life; that all flesh is grafs, and the goodliness of man as the flower of the field; and as a powerful incentive in confideration thereof, to extend our views beyond the short-lived glory, and fading enjoyments of this uncertain world, to the durable riches of righteoufnefs, and everlasting rewards thereof. May the rifing youth hereby be incited, fo to number their days, as that they may apply their hearts unto wisdom, in order to make timely preparation for their final change; and not fuffer themselves to be fo far deluded, as to put off this neceffary work, to fome future ftage of life, which they can have no affurance of attaining unto, reafoning with themselves (through the fuggeftions of the enemy) that gayety, feftivity, and fleshly liberties, being agreeable to their prefent age, may be fafely indulged for a season, as they have much time to repent and grow fober in; and that at fome more advanced period, when gravity and seriousness

Prov, viii, 17.

will be more fuitable to their years, they will then apply to those things that belong to peace. Had this virtuous young man fo reasoned, and so acted, how different had the favour he left behind him been! but oh how different! how very remotely different his condition in this immortal ftate!

If any man will come after me, faid our bleffed Lord, let him take up his crofs daily, deny himself, and follow me:† fince then these are the prefcribed terms of difcipleship, and, if we would be eternally happy, are to be submitted to at one period of our lives or other; they have greatly the advantage, who are so wise as to fubmit thereto, in the early part of life. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth, before his evil propenfities be fo confirmed by indulgence as to become habitual: custom hath a powerful influence over the human mind, and the cross to evil habits is hard to endure. Can the Ethiopian change his fkin, or the leopard his spots ? "then may ye alfo do good, who are accustomed to do evil."* On the contrary, as cuftom alfo makes hard things eafy, if instead of accustoming ourselves to do evil, and thereby strength

+ Luke ix. 23.

* Jer. xiii. 23.

ening our natural propenfities thereto, and edging our painful sensations under the cross; we accustom out tender necks to the yoke of Chrift, we fhall much fooner feel his yoke become easy, and his burden light: that early piety is the surest ground of an eafy and peaceful paffage through this vale of tears, as well as laying a good foundation for futurity. "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come," and thofe have in a general way proved most eminently serviceable, and the brightest lights in their generation, who have with Jacob, entered early into covenant with their maker, and kept the covenant of their youth.

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I fincerely defire the youth into whose hands this may fall, may deeply ponder these interesting reflections, fo as ferioufly to confider their latter end, and make timely preparation for it; as not knowing at what hour the mafter may come, at midnight, at cock-crowing, or the dawning of the day. And then I am well convinced they would be weaned, not only from the luxury, diffipation, and grofs enormities of the world, but from an affectation of, and conformity unto, the vain amusements, manners and fashions thereTim.i 4. 8.

of, which too many indulge themselves in, to their hurt. Let them not fatisfy themselves with an apprehenfion, that they indulge only in things of an indifferent nature, and in which religion is not concerned: but instead of unwifely measuring themfelves by themfelves, and comparing themselves amongst themselves, bring their deeds to the true criterion the light,* that they may be made manifeft, what fource they originate from: and in the light many of the little things will be feen to draw the mind from it's proper center, and the feats of thofe that fell doves, occupying the temple of the heart, to unfit it for an house of prayer. It is not fufficient that we are preferved from grofs evils (although this is laudable fo far) but if we are concerned to make our calling and election fure, and to fecure an inheritance amongst them that are fanctified, we are to walk in obedience to the will of God, (which is our fanctification) revealed by his grace in our hearts, which teaches to deny ourselves not only of those things that are manifeftly evil; but of those also, that, under the ap pearance of indifferent, gratify our carnal defires, and draw the mind into folly and vanity, from that ftate of vigilance, on which our fafety depends: not only to abftain from those irregularities in conduct, which injure our reputation with men; but

* Cor. ii. 10, 12:

to keep that guard upon the avenues of the heart, that we fuffer no thief to find entertainment there to fteal away our affections from God, of defile this temple of the Holy Ghoft. Man that is created a little lower than the angels, is created for higher and nobler purfuits, than the gratifications of sense: and not to rest satisfied to merely avoidthat conduct which expofes him to cenfure; but to follow that which merits praise, and procures divine approbation. "Finally, bretheren, what"foever things are true, whatsoever things are

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honeft, whatsoever things are just, whatfo

ever things are pure, whatsoever things are "lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if "there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, "think on these things.§

My brother, having now for feveral years been principally engaged, in the neceffary care and labour to provide for thofe of his own houfhold in the latter end of the year 1773, felt a religious concern on his mind to vifit friends in fome of the counties of England; and also those of Ireland, in company with Thomas Melhuish, of Taunton in Somerfetfhire: and in order to fet himfelf at liberty to accomplish thefe vifits, he refign ed his fchool in Bristol.

T

$Philippians iv, s,