will have comfort and hope treasured up for that late stage, when the powers of body and mind are impaired. Or fhould death come early, the true fear of God is the gray hair unto men. This is honourable age.

It is but a little while before you must lie down together in the duft, with all who are fallen afleep. The words and example of him, who died for our offences, and rose for our juftification, should be ever in your minds and govern your conduct: "I muft work the "works of him that fent me while it is day: The "night cometh."

The youth are a class of hearers who claim the fpecial attention of the teachers of religion. Impreffed with a fenfe of paftoral duty, to them my voice has been directed in a courfe of fermons, of which this will be the laft. I will not burthen you with a recapitulation of what has been offered in fuch a number and variety of difcourfes; but only remind you, that the following fubjects have been under our confideration: FAITH and PRACTICE-the enquiry concerning ETERNAL LIFE--religion our own CHOICE INDECISION in religion the PRINCIPLE of virtue-God's GLORY man's end and happiness-ENCOURAGEMENT to early feeking-SELF-DEDICATION-PRAYER-obfervation of the LORD'S DAY-the EXCELLENCE of religion-the HAPPINESS of life-the standard of HONOUR-GOOD company recommended-caution against BAD compa ny-caution against BAD books—FRUGALITY—DISSIPATION the INSTABILITY of life-PROCRASTINATION REDEMPTION of time-reflections on DEATHJUDGMENT the PERSON and CHARACTER of the Judge the ftate of thofe who DIE IN SIN--the FUTURE BLESSEDNESS of the righteous.

You are reminded merely of the TITLES of my dif courses, each of which has been reftricted to a fingle point, with the view of giving you more diftinct ideas of your highest duty and happiness. Juftice to yourselves requires that you think seriously and closely on these things.

52

Knowing that shortly I must put off my tabernacle, and wishing you the best bleffings, outward, fpiritual and eternal, it was incumbent on me to addrefs you in a plain, faithful and earnest manner on things of the kingdom of God and your own peace. For this reafon you fhould remember how you have received, and heard, and bold faft and repent. Allow me to hope that all which has been offered, on fo many and interesting subjects, will not be as feed caft by the way fide, or in ftony ground, or among thorns. Search the facred oracles; let them decide whether the words of truth and fobernefs have been spoken to you. Pray to the Father of lights, that he would give you a good understanding in the things concerning the Lord Jefus Chrift. May his effectual influence accompany these feeble attempts for his glory and your chief good. Might it please him to open your hearts to receive his truth, you will rejoice your best friends on earth, and all the angels in heaven.

You enter on life at a perilous time in the world.— Suffer me to warn you of the fnares and allurements attendant on the increasing population, commerce and diffipation of this city. Your virtue will be affailed from various quarters heretofore unknown. Religious profeffion and practice are become very unfashionable. Family religion is in a manner extinguished, and the Lord's day profaned. Sound principles and morals have almost ceased to be confidered as a qualification for office. Thofe in younger life are strongly inclined to fall in with the fafhion. Dangers will furround you on every fide. Be ye therefore sober and vigilant. Quit you like men. Dare to be fingular in the cause of God and your fouls. The Lord preferve and bless you.

Finally, my young brethren, we commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to keep you from falling, to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are fanctified.AMEN.

"BE careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer " and fupplication with thanks-giving, let your requests “be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which "paffeth all understanding, fhall keep your hearts and "minds through Jefus Chrift. This is the confidence which ર we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his "will, he beareth us."

Thofe who begin life, in a family ftate, without the morning and evening facrifice, will be apt to continue in the neglect. To excite young perfons to this duty, as foon as they commence a family connection, the following forms have been drawn up. These are offered to their confideration with no view of restricting them. General forms may be useful, though they do not apply to all variety and diverfity of circumstances.

Plain and important as the duty of family devotion is, the prevailing difufe of it must be acknowledged. When the author of the preceding fermons, by the advice of judicious friends, concluded to make them public from the prefs, it occurred to him, that they might be feafonably and properly accompanied with prayers for young families, as an excitement and fmall affiftance to them in this reafonable fervice. Those who may be difpofed to use the following prayers, will either take them in their order, or felect fuch as beft accord with their own judgment and state.

In fome infances, great embarrassment may arife from trufting too far to memory. If, for this or other reafons, any fhould prefer reading the prayers, at least for a time, this mode can furnish no juft objection.

The hour of prayer fhould be fixed. As early as the family can be collected, is the proper time to attend morning prayer. And it may, generally, be most convenient to collect the family before breakfast. Reading a portion of the fcriptures, in the morning efpecially, is recommended. A deep fenfe of our wants and unworthiness is the beft help to prayer. This remark is illustrated in the ninth of the preceding fermons.

MORNING PRAYER.

ALMIGHTY God! the high and lofty One who inhabiteft eternity; who dwelleft in the high and holy place; affift us by thy good Spirit in offering up our morning prayer.

Thou art the God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. He continually prefenteth before the throne of glory the value of the facrifice which he offered for our fins. We approach before thee in his name, and plead his merits. May our prayer afcend with acceptance out of his hand.

We thank thee for thine eternal love in Chrift Jefus to a loft world. May his atoning and purifying blood be applied to our fouls, and the Spirit of life in him make us free from fin and death. Give us the contrite, humble spirit which thou revivest, and with which thou dwelleft. May corruption daily grow weaker, and grace ftronger. With the armour of God may we withstand all our fpiritual foes. May we choose the path of the juft, which fhineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they ftumble.

We thank thee for the prefervation of the last night-that we are awaked from refreshing fleep in the enjoyment of health and reafon, of things needful and convenient. Through the bufinefs, temptations and events of the day now begun, be at our right hand, that we may not be moved. Guide and profper our juft labour in the things of this life. May thy fear be in us as a fountain of life, to depart from the fnares of death. A fenfe of our wants and entire dependence constraineth us to pray, Give us this day our daily bread. A fenfe of our unworthinefs conftraineth us to pray, Forgive us our debts. They