worshipped with his actual pre-ing themselves to be captivated by sence, and an imperial dispatch is appearances, lest they should pursue viewed in the province, with offering the shadow instead of the reality, or of incense, and prostration, looking mistake a shining meteor for a towards Pekin.-The Chinese, by guiding star. However wonderful J. F. Davis, Esq.

OF AMBITION IN YOUTH.

talent or genius may be, it offers no example. Great power, whether of body or mind, is not to be copied. If the dwarf were to emulate the limbs of the giant, he would be guilty of an absurdity; and no less IN the susceptible season of youth, so would the man of inferior intelthose to whom early training is more lect, were he to aim at the display of especially entrusted, are under the mental greatness: in short, the moral highest obligation to watch over qualities only are imitable, and to be and control the rising thoughts of presented as examples, on the same ambition. The love of fame and principle that we cannot imitate the the love of glory are apt to take an omnipotence, but the benevolence, early and a powerful hold upon the of Deity. If moral excellence have mind, and this is fostered by unre- raised to eminence, let that be gulated studies in classical literature pointed out as the element of real and general history. The pages of greatness; if otherwise, let the truth the past, in all languages, are replete of character be separated from the with heroes and heroic stories; and glory, and the tinsel exposed amidst no wonder that the youthful heart the decorations. Without moral

is captivated with the splendid worth a man may be infinitely little, achievements of the conquerors of with the talents of an angel. Young nations. As they are seen to sway men, therefore should be taught to the destinies of empires, to attract imitate good more than great qualithe admiration of their contempora- ties, or rather be persuaded that the ries, and to transmit an imperishable good are the truly great; for while name to distant ages, they appear mere mental power may be beyond invested with a halo of grandeur and our reach, they should be shown renown, which it is difficult for what attributes and distinctions are reason to disperse, and for the ima- at once attainable and ennoblingginative mind of youth to disown. industry, perseverence, self-disciIt is important, indeed, to attract pline, virtue, and religion. the young to the contemplation of The propensity to admire splendid great examples: and the history of achievements seems to be inherent the world supplies inviting speci- in our nature, but is capable of mens of varied excellence. On this modification by education and exsubject, however, gross mistakes perience. As we are indebted for have been committed in holding up so many of our impressions, and as examples those who are not, in those the most permanent, to menfact, imitable, or worthy of imita- tal associations, these must be well tion. There is a certain dazzle and early regulated. In order to about illustrious names which often annihilate a wrong association, the deludes; being favourable to ambi- palpable magnificence of an action,. tion indeed, but not to truth: Young or a series of actions, must not be men must be warned against suffer- denied; for the mind would then

be furnished with a plausible pre- parent or early instructor not have tence for disregarding the instruc-formed good habits of mind, princition; but the real merits of the ples will, in all probability, have case should be ascertained by a been adopted, at variance with recareful analysis. Separate the pre- ligion; for the active faculties and cious from the vile; showing what the moral powers must have an obis to be admired, what loved, or ject, and their character is deterwhat despised. Point out the dif- mined by that object. The secret ference between rank and cha- of that alienation from piety, which racter; between motives of ambi- spreads like a blight over the surtion and motives of virtue; between face of society, and which is in gethe love of fame and the love of neral confirmed instead of being country, or the love of man. Accus-corrected by advancing years, is the tom your minds to reflect and dis- neglect or the mismanagement of an criminate; and if they must have early religious discipline. If moral their heroes, and heroes they will education has been wholly neglected, find on the glowing page of history, or has been attempted upon a very let them weigh well the difference artificial and limited scale in childbetween the heroic murderer, the hood, and if it has been equally heroic patriot, and the heroic overlooked in the subsequent period Christian,-between an Alexander of literary tuition-if, in short, the or a Napoleon; and an Alfred, a mind and not the heart has been Washington, or a Carey !

cultivated, the total want of prepaThe education of the heart is ration for the further instructions of more than incomplete, if the love religion has tended to prevent its of God be not inspired; at once the influence, and, but for some miracle beginning and the consummation of of grace, secure the heart to the all wisdom. In the idea of educa- world. Instruction comes ineftion, this is rarely included. Gene- fectually, because it comes too late ral education in the schools stops at and hence it has been found, that if literature and science, or it termi- the claims of religion have not been nates in mere human virtue. The admitted, and its renewing grace latter term we use here in courtesy, has not been felt before manhood, for in truth there can be no virtue they have been, in the majority of where there is no religion: morality instances, utterly and for ever discan never run pure unless it flows owned. If this be indeed the apfrom the fountain of piety. But an palling fact, the situation of the interior cultivation or an external parent and the schoolmaster or the polish, however great, is not a per- tutor is one of immense responsifect education, unless the sentiment bility. Theirs is to lay the basis of of love to God be imparted: and to happiness-to prepare the young this point instruction should be immortal for this life and the life to made to tend. Although this may come-to form a soul for bliss or appear to be the peculiar duty of woe. persons appointed to the offices of In advocating the most vigorous religion, it must be remembered efforts of human instrumentality, let that schoolmasters and tutors are in it not for a moment be imagined situation to confirm right senti- that there is any intentioned deprements, if they have been given; if ciation of divine agency. The sancnot, of imparting them. Should the tification of man is as really from

a

the Spirit of God as the very system and usefulness, I beg you to settle of revelation itself; but the use of this subject at once and for ever. instrumentality does not interfere Has God ever spoken to man? If with the efficacy of agency. Both so, when and how? These are the in the natural and spiritual worlds, most impotant questions ever asked. Deity works by means; and they And they should be answered and are, if we may so describe them, the settled, so that the mind may have channels of his operation. An infi- something to rest upon so firm that nite Being could, unquestionably, nothing shall move it. "We are produce all the effects necessary to mere mites creeping on the earth, be produced, by the instantaneous and oftentimes conceited mites too." or direct exertion of his will, instead We can easily unsettle things, but of accomplishing his gracious de- can erect nothing. We can pull signs intermediately by other beings; down a church, but, without aid, but the question is not what might cannot erect a hovel. The earlier be done, but what is actually the in life you settle your principles, method of divine proceeding, and the firmer, more mature, more inin what relation the means or agen- fluential, will your character be. cies he employs stand to the ends Search the Bible, and try it as you in view. If, with reference to God would gold in the furnace. If you himself as the first Cause of all, it doubt its inspiration, sit down to cannot be properly described as the its examination with candour, and relation of cause and effect, unless with an honest desire to know what the term be used in a secondary is truth: let the examination be as and subordinate sense, it is at least thorough as you please: but, when the relation of the link in the chain, once made, let it be settled for or of the seed and the corn; that ever. You will then have someis, it is the relation of connexion thing to stand upon. You will have and dependence. Here is an an unerring standard by which to established order of things: and regulate your conduct, your conit is the same in religion. The science, and your heart. The ship heart must be cultivated; this is that outrides the storm with the the necessary link in the chain of greatest ease is the one which has happiness: truth must be imparted her anchors out, her cables stretched, to the mind by various instruction; and her sails furled, before the this is the necessary sowing of the seed in preparation for the harvest. The metaphysics of the case may be obscure; but the fact is established. Paul must plant, Apollos water, and God gives the increase.-Dr. Cox's Prize Essay.

RULES FOR LIFE.

SHOULD you be among those who have no fixed principles in morals and religion, for your own peace

strength of the storm has reached her; and the navigator, who must stand at the helm through the long, dark night, does not wait till that night comes, ere he sees that his compass is boxed and properly hung. He who has his religious principles early fixed, has nothing to do but at once, and continually, to act upon them-to carry them out in practicc. He has not the delays and the vexations of distrust and doubt every little while, when he stops to examine and settle a principle. Every reader will be

convinced of this, who will read Resolved, to suffer no effects of it,

place, of which action I should not diligently look into the mystery of be willing to be a witness againt the gospel; and they are the commyself hereafter." panions and fellow-students of all who thus study it.

It is frequently the case that young men have an idea that there By disciplining the heart, I mean is something in the cultivation of bringing it into subjection to the the heart, and in the restraints of will of God, so, that you can best religion, which degrades or cramps honor him, and do most for the the soul; that a mind which is well-being of men. I shall suggest naturally noble and lofty, will be- some means by which the heart come grovelling and contracted may be disciplined and the feelings by submitting to moral restraints. cultivated.

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the

This is a mere prejudice; and it 1. Let it be your immediate and does little good to deny a prejudice. constant aim to make every event But go into that library, and exa-subservient to cultivating the heart. mine the shelves, and see who are We are in danger of acknowthose who have penned what will ledging the importance of this subbe immortal, and influence other ject, but at the same time of minds as long as earth shall endure. putting it off to a convenient season. In almost every instance, the work You suppose your present circumwhich will hold its place the long-stances are not favorable. There est, was dictated by a Christian are difficulties. now, but you are heart. The loftiest minds, the most looking forward to the time when cultivated intellects, and the most things will be different. Your stusolid judgments, have bowed at the dies will not hurry you so much; altar of God, and have been quick- they will become much easier; and ened and ennobled by the waters you will have conveniences which which flow from his mount; and if you have not at the present time. we go up from man to those higher But when you shall go to another orders of beings who compose place, or commence a new study, or presence" of the eternal, we shall enter upon a more pleasant season find them, after having shouted for of the year, or have a new comjoy over the creation of this world, panion in your room, then you can when the morning stars sang toge- begin to take care of your heart, ther; after having watched the and have intercourse with God. providence of God, and seen em- But you greatly misjudge. Every pires rise and fall; after having thing, every circumstance in our conhung round the good in all their dition, is designed by infinite wiswandering on earth, still studying dom as a part of our moral discithe Gospel, to have their views en- pline; and he who watches the larged, their conceptions of the sparrow when she alights, and infinite wisdom expanded, and still directs her how and where to find desiring to look into these things. the grain of food, he directs all May not the sublime idea of the things relating to your situation; modesty of these "angelic stu- and he designs to have every thing dents" rebuke the ignorance, the contribute to your moral improvedarkness, and consummate pride of ment. There is not a temptation those who feel that their greatness which meets you, nor a vexation would be diminished by bowing to which harasses you, nor a trouble the gospel of God? The angels which depresses you, but it was all