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tion. You have now, through Divine favour, a good constitution. Try to keep it, by avoiding every species of excess, and by watching every approach of derangement; and, under the blessing of God, all will be well.

5. Never permit yourself to get into a WHINING, COMPLAINING HABIT, WHEN SPEAKING OF YOUR BODILY HEALTH. You and I know some clergy men, both young and old, who have, by some means, gotten into the unhappy practise, whenever they are asked, by an acquaintance, how they do, of playing the invalid, in rather a ludicrous manner; continually complaining of more or less indisposition; giving a minute history of their little ailments and difficulties; and really appearing to take a kind of comfort from being listened to in a narrative of their own sufferings. Carefully guard against this habit. It is disgusting in itself; troublesome, and, in no respect attractive, to your friends; calculated to gain strength by indulgence; and, in the end, to increase the real evils, and to turn into real, the imaginary evils of which it complains. Unless there be something very peculiar in the state of your health, answer all inquiries respecting it in a single sentence. Trouble nobody but your physician with a minute detail of your pains and aches, and infirmities; not merely because it is, to many, a revolting story; but because, the in

fluence of this habit on your own mind, when indulged to a considerable extent, cannot fail of being unhappy. Talking much about your complaints, will lead you to think much of them; and thinking much of them, will almost infallibly lead to an increase of their power, whether real or imaginary; and finally make you a miserable bundle of complaints and infirmities. Cultivate a cheerful temper, and it will diffuse a happy influence over your whole character.

6. When you are introduced into the ministry, endeavour always, throughout life, to BE

ON GOOD TERMS WITH YOUR CLERICAL BRE

THREN. You have known lawyers and physicians who were always on hostile terms with their professional brethren. Like Ishmael, of old, there hands were against every one, and every one's hands against them. But I presume you never knew such an individual who was truly respectable. The incessant disposition to vituperate and repel which this character supposes, must be considered as indicating either a want of principle, or an obliquity of temper, of the most unhappy kind. Show me a lawyer or physician who is for ever abusing his brethren, and I will show you a man unworthy of their love or confidence. The same rule applies, perhaps with peculiar force, to ministers of the gospel. The religion which they teach

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is a system of love; and the great cause which they profess to seek, is the cause of order, union, happiness, and salvation, temporal and eternal. Ministers, therefore, not only ought to be united in affection; but just so far as they are honest, and in earnest in the great cause which they profess to love, they will be so united you value your own peace, comfort and usefulness; and as you wish well to the peace, and edification of the church, cultivate a spirit of christian love, and affectionate intercourse, with all who bear the sacred office, and especially with those of our own church. Visit them ; honour them; co-operate with them; and put far from you every thing which tends to generate coldness or strife among them Your own happiness, and the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom are more concerned in this thing than you are probably aware.

7. Never allow yourself TO BE A POLITICIAN. Never atten political meetings:-never harangue in political companies :-never scribble political paragraphs:-never connect yourself with political parties :--nay, do not indulge in much political conversation, even with your friends. Ministers of the gospel, and those who are preparing for the ministry, have infinitely more important work to do. And rely upon it, that, in all cases, the more of a politi

cian you are, the less will be your comfort and your usefulness as an ambassador of JesusChrist.

8 Let your RECREATIONS BE ALWAYS SUCH That clerical

AS BECOME YOUR PROFESSION.

men need recreation as much as others, and in some respects more, is too evident to be denied. Yet I need not say, that many of those amusements which are considered as innocent by worldly people, are out of the question for you. Happily our lot is cast in an age, and in a country, in which publick sentiment as well as the word of God very unequivocally prohibits them. There is however, an ample rang of choice still left for every reasonable man. All that become a grave christian, fall within this range. It will readily occur to you that the active discharge of many of his parochial duties, may be rendered by a pastor, and, if zealously engaged in, will become, some of his most precious recreatious. But more than this will be necessary. Riding and walking, of course, in all their varieties, belong to the admissible class. To these I would especially a d gardening, as one of the most rational. d lightful, and profitable of the whole list. Man in his first and most perfect state was placed in a garden; and in proportion as men imbibe correct sentiments and cultivate a just taste, they will be glad to get back to the same employment. It is desi

rable to every student to have some recreation, which will not only be salutary, but also pleasant and attractive. If you engage with a moderate and well regulated zeal in the culture of vegetables and shrubbery, you will not probably find them to draw you away from your books a single hour more than will be useful to your health. And if you desire your gardening, as well as your walking and riding to be doubly agreeable, as well as doubly advantageous, try to gain at least such an elementary knowledge of Botany and Mineralogy as will give you an additional interest in every plant you cultivate, and in every fossil on which you tread.

9. Never allow yourself TO BE IN A HURRY. Clergymen who are active and faithful, have commonly so much to do, that, unless they are extremely diligent and orderly in their affairs, they will often be painfully hurried; and that which a publick man does in a hurry, is com monly ill done. Few men were ever more busy than the late Mr. John Wesley; yet he significantly remarked, that although often in haste, he was never in a hurry." The distinction was a just one. He had always a number of engagements on hand, and was obliged to pass rapidly from one to another. But, amidst them all, he maintained that composure of mind, which enabled him to do each thoroughly and well. This is an important art. Learn it

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