ligion calls upon it to rejoice;-it only wishes to render its rejoicing permanent, and to fix its happiness for ever. It seeks to add a new zest to enjoyment, by uniting it to gratitude, by raising the youthful mind to the source from which all its happiness flows, to that unchanging goodness in which it "lives, and "moves, and has its being,"-to that gracious Father, from whom life itself, and all the capacities of joy, are derived, and who looks down with paternal delight on the genuine happiness of all his children. Is it unsuitable, let me ask, to the glowing affections of Youth, to raise its thoughts, at times, to this high contemplation? To look abroad upon universal existence, and to behold all creation rejoi cing in the bounty of its God? To view Material Nature clothed in every form of beauty, and animated Being enjoying every variety of happiness? To feel, amid the mighty scene, that itself is not forgot ten,—that its own light spirits, and active limbs, and ardent hopes, are gitts from the same bounteous hand,-and to suffer the flame of love and of gratitude to kindle amidst the glow of youthful joy? Is there any severity, then, in the demand, that the young should "remember their Crea "tor in the days of their youth?" And does the world give them a more generous lesson, one better adapted to the warm impulses of their hearts,-when it would confine their thoughts to the mere selfishness of enjoyment,-when it would draw them, by degrees, into the gross circle of sensuality, and close their eyes for ever to all that Divine splendour of beneficence which surrounds them, and check every emotion of gratitude that throbs within? From the cultivation of piety, my young friends, you are, in the second . place, naturally led to that of every other duty; and surely the demand which is now made upon you, "if there be any virtue, "and if there be any praise," to think of these things, is neither unfitting the character of your reflections, nor the generous sentiments of your years. your years. Even at your years you must have perceived, that life, with all its capacities of enjoyment, is not designed to be a dream of pleasure, that something is to be done in existence, no less than to be enjoyed, and that the heart of man can less endure the sense of degradation and contempt, than all the sufferings and sorrows of his uncertain and perishable being. While, then, you are called by Religion as well as by Nature, to “rejoice "in your youth,"-remember that you are likewise called upon to act a part on the theatre of human life; and if you will listen to the voice of your own hearts, you will hear it assure you, that more happiness must accrue to you from acting that part well, than from all the intoxication of pleasure, or all the splendours of fortune. You will hear it assure you, that the true honours of your nature have, in every age, been won by resolution and self-command; and the examples in history, to which your eye involuntarily turns, and which rouse every sympathetic emotion of your uncorrupted minds, are those of the hero, the patriot, or the sage,-not the degraded minions of pomp, or pleasure, or power. To such examples, even human wisdom, amid all its imperfection, invariably directs you; but you are now led, by a wisdom greater than that of man, to the contemplation of a still higher morality, and a more perfect example. You are called by the holy voice of the Son of God himself, to the cultivation of every pure, and gentle, and elevated principle of conduct; you hear him entreat you, not as a Master, but as a Friend, to take his "easy yoke upon you, and his "light burden," and you see Him walking before you in every path of duty, wherever man is to be blessed, or God is to be honoured. At your age, the duties required of you are not, in general, hard to be exercised; you are rather preparing for the business of life, than have actually entered upon it. You are not yet assailed by violent temptations, nor have to struggle against habits long confirmed; yet you have knowledge and wisdom to acquire, passions to regulate, innocence to guard, virtue to improve, and on the success of your present exertions depends, more than you can now conceive, the future honour and happiness of your being. "Whatsoever "things, therefore, are true, whatsoever |