all set a good example for you to follow. Now therefore, let your parents have the unspeakable pleasure of beholding, in your tender years the signs of real piety, of love to God; let them see that you are resolved to set a good example to others. Now is just the time to do good; seek God and you will find him to be a father, a friend, a guide, and a protector. It will be far more pleasing to him, and it will be more for his glory, when we devote our youth to God and to Christ. Religion will abide with you while young, grow up with your riper years, and be your companion in the closing scenes of life; for godliness is profitable to all things, having the promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come. But it is time for me to conclude. 6th. Therefore let me give you, in the last place, this warning; it may be the last you will hear; "but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever." To be turned out of the family of God, to be given up by him to your father the devil! to be shut out from Heaven, to be cast off from God, whose favour is life, and whose loving kindness is better than life itself: How awful! Your immortal souls will live for. ever; they will never die, but they will be cast down to hell; if you forsake God, they will be condemned to spend an eternity in everlasting flames. Will you forsake the guide of your youth, and wander on in sin to everlasting misery? The thought is too painful, I cannot give you up, rather let me weep over your careless and sinful conduct. O that mine head were waters and mine eyes fountains of tears, that I might weep day and night over your precious souls. Think of your misery; who will be your friend, if God is not? Who will be your Saviour, if Christ is not? Who will change your heart, if the Spirit of God does not? Where will you go if you do not go to Heaven? I tremble for you, I pity you. Many of you I fear, will be still careless, and run on in the downward road to everlasting misery, which I pray God to prevent for Christ sake. Amen. And seek him while he's near; "If thou wilt seek his face, His ear will hear thy cry; Then shalt thou find his mercy sure, "But if thou leave thy God, Nor choose the path to heav'n, LECT. III.-Advantages of an early Love to Jesus. Ist JOHN ii. 28.-And now little children, abide in him (Christ) that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. My dear young friends, IF you wish to be happy in this world, and happy in that which is to come, you must fear God and love Christ, while you are young.. "You can't too early serve the Lord, Nor love his name too dear, Nor prize too much his precious word, : Permit me, my dear young friends, to ask you a few questions. Thomas, what did you come for? to hear the sermon, sir: and what did you come for, William? because my parents told me to come, sir: and what did you come for, John? because I love to hear of Christ and what did you come for, Benjamin? because all the rest of the children came, and I did not like to stay behind by myself: well Ann, how came you to come? because I wish to hear the word of God: Rebecca, what was the reason you came? I heard that you were not so good as you should be? why, I am sorry I have been so wicked, and hope I shall be a better girl for the time to come: well, Eliza, how was it that you came? because I like to hear you talk of Jesus Christ: Mary I am glad to see you, tell me the reason of your coming here this evening? I came to follow the example of my name sake: who is your name sake? she is spoken of in the 10th chap. of Luke and 39th verse: what is said of her in that verse? that "she sat at the feet of Jesus and heard his words:" what did Christ say of her? he said Mary has chosen that good part which shall never be taken away from her." Well, my dear child, you are come to the house of God for a good purpose; I wish all the rest of the children would follow your example, and may the choice of Mary be their choice. "Father divine diffuse thy light, Have any of you read Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress? yes sir, I have: can you tell me the names of those four little boys, who went on pilgrimage with their mother? yes sir, James, Joseph, Samuel and Matthew. Now, as they went on their way, they came to a certain great house, can you tell me the name of that house? the Interpreter's house: no, it was after they had been there, and it stood on the top of a hill called Difficulty. O yes, the name if it was Beautiful: very right, that is the same I mean. Now, at this house they said their catechism to a young lady; what was her name? I think it was Prudence, sir: yes it was, and she began with the youngest, whose name was James; come James, said she, can you tell me who made you? God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost: good boy, can you tell who saved you? God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit: good boy still; how does God the Father save you? by his grace: how does God the Son save you? by his life and obedience to the law of God, by his sufferings and death upon the cross how does God the Spirit save you? by convincing me of the evil of sin, by renewing my heart, and by guiding and preserving me in the ways of God. She then called Joseph: and said, let me catechise you Joseph with all my heart, said the child. What is man? a reasonable creature, (created with a body and a soul:) what is meant by the word saved, or salvation? it means a deliverance from every evil, and possession of every good what is God's design in saving man? to glorify his name, to display his grace and honor his perfections: what are the perfections of God? his Truth, Justice, Holiness, Goodness, Patience, Power, Mercy and Love: good boy Joseph, says Prudence, thy mother has taught thee well. Come Samuel, are you willing to be catechised? yes, if you please; what is Heaven? a blessed place, because God lives there what is Hell? a place of misery, because it is the dwelling place of sin, of Satan and his angels why should you like to go to |