Now, resolve, in the Lord's name and strength, that you will endeavour to keep all these advantages habitually in your own view, and to pursue them with undeviating aim, and unwearied diligence; and that you will constantly endeavour also, to hold them up to the view of others, by all proper methods, but especially by the lustre of your example. Resolve, if you stand alone in the resolution, among all your brethren, that you will never cease your efforts, in your proper sphere, to promote, to the utmost, faithful study; profound and impartial discussion; christian regularity and order; the mutual correction of errors; deep, lively piety; gentle, benign, fraternal deportment; and fervent brotherly love among all with whom you are connected ;that you will labour without ceasing, and sacrifice every subordinate interest for the sake of attaining these great objects. A single student, in good earnest in adopting such a resolution; habitually animated with a corresponding spirit; and making all who approached him to feel, continually, the purity of his motives, and the elevation of his aims, might diffuse an influence over a whole institution, of which no one could estimate the value. Try to be such an individual; and your companions in study will have reason to remember you with gratitude as long

as they live, and the future generations of the Seminary will rise up and call you blessed.

2. Let me advise you to PAY CONSTANT AND

STRICT

ATTENTION ΤΟ THE LAWS OF THE

SEMINARY. You are bound, as an honest man, to do this for when you entered it, you formally and "solemnly promised, in a reliance on divine grace, that you would faithfully and diligently attend on all the instructions of the Seminary; that you would conscientiously and vigilantly observe all the rules and regulations specified in the plan for its instruction. and government, so far as the same relate to the students and that you would obey all the lawful requisitions, and readily yield to all the wholesome admonitions of the Professors and Directors of the Seminary, while you should continue a member of it."

Now, it cannot be doubted, that this promise, or rather oath, (for it partakes more of the latter character than of the former) lays you under solemn obligations, not only to make yourself acquainted, in minute detail, with all the laws and regulations of the Seminary, but also to conform to them with a scrupulous exactness. These laws, as you know, are all publickly read before the assembled students, twice in the year. But the whole number of students are never actually present on these occasions; and

some of those who are absent, perhaps, may forget or neglect to attend to the subject afterwards. I would advise you to keep a copy of all he laws and rules in question, in your room; to review them more than once in the course of each session; and to examine, in the fear of God, how far your habits have been in all respects, in conformity with them. For, be assured, your punctual obedience to every one of them, in every tittle, is not only expected and required, but is important to the best interests of the Institution. You cannot infringe the least of them, without more or less injury to yourself, or the Seminary, or both. Never ask, then, "Where will be the harm of a single infraction, on my part, of this or that law?"-But rather ask, when you are tempted to such infraction- -"What would be the consequence if not only 1, but all my fellow students were to take the same course ?" This is the test to which every student of delicate moral feeling, will bring every such question.

3. Cultivate the habit of PASSING FROM ONE

PART TO ANOTHER OF THE PUBLICK EDIFICE

WITH GENTLENESS, AND WITHOUT NOISE. All the movements of a theological student should be grave, sedate, and manly. No running, noisy walking, whistling, singing, loud talking, or boisterous laughter, should ever be heard in passing to and from the different rooms. That

which would excite no attention, and produce no inconvenience, when indulged by three or four persons under one roof; becomes an intolerable nuisance, when practised without restraint, in the same edifice, by three or four score. There is a strong propensity in young men of buoyant spirits, however excellent their intentions, to forget themselves in reference to this point, and to infringe that dignity which they, no doubt, mean to observe. Hence the importance of beginning early in life, to check this propensity, and to form that habit of gravity and gentleness in all your movements, which will diffuse a charm over your manners in every situa tion.

4. Cherish A SPIRIT OF PERFECT ORDER IN ALL YOUR ENGAGEMENTS, as a member of the Seminary. As you are bound to meet three different professors in the course of each week, and have different studies assigned for every day, some degree of system in study becomes absolutely necessary. You cannot possibly proceed without it. But it is manifest that some are much more successful than others in reducing their minds to that rigidly systematick and orderly character, at which he who is preparing for publick life ought always to aim. My object is to prevail on you to pay particular attention to this point; and to endeavour here to form habits in this respect, which may

You

exert a happy influence on your whole life. You cannot too early begin to be a man of perfect system. Let the strictest order pervade all your engagements and habits. Have a time and place, as far as possible, for every thing; and let every thing be done in its proper time and place. Let regular hours be assigned for devotion, for study, for exercise, for visiting, for sleep, and for miscellaneous avocations; and let no ordinary occurrence break in on those hours. Habits of this kind will be of greater advantage than you can easily anticipate. will be able to accomplish far more by this method, than you possibly could otherwise. You will not be subjected to that incessant hurry and distraction which are generally observable in those who act without system. You will be delivered in a great measure from those moments of listlessness, which are apt to arise when we have not made up our minds what to begin next. In fact, if the plan of a Theological Seminary should produce no other advantage to a diligent and wise student, it will undoubtedly tend to beget the habit of which I speak. And I will add, that he who cannot bring his mind to submit to such a plan; who frequently yields to the infraction of it; or who flies from it for relief;-has great reason to fear, either, that he labours under a constitutional infirmity of mind, which demands his immedi