the life of genuine liberality; whatever lifts up the sweet smile of virtuous blessedness in the domestic circles; whatever encourages and rewards industry in all classes; whatever sustains the institutions of science and of equitable civil government; in short, whatever is concerned in the promotion of that godliness which is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come, every wise and benevolent citizen will love and promote.

The learned professions all look for their supplies to young men. Think of the immense moral power wielded over society by these professions. Is it of small importance, whether those who are to illustrate and advocate our laws and adjudicate our civil rights, those who are to be the professors in our public seminaries and teachers of our youth, those who are to have in trust the health and the lives of their fellow-beings, in the season when the presence and consolations of religion are so essentially needed, shall be men fearing God and honestly seeking to "do good to all men" as they have opportunity?" Were it no calamity to have them "haters of God" and lovers of their own selves," cold and dead to all sentiments of piety, reckless of their moral accountability, and scattering pestilence and destruction around them? And the ministry; is it of no consequence whether the

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pulpit shall be filled with enlightened and pious preachers? — whether that throne of power shall be for the support of the divine law and the salvation of men, or whether it shall be desecrated by time-serving irreligion, or catholic bigotry, or learned infidelity, or whatever loves itself more than Christ and his cause?

A priesthood of some kind there will always be; shall ours be one to enlighten, to elevate, to save? How interesting in this view is the fact, that so many of the finest intellects in our colleges and other seminaries are becoming devoted to religion. It is the brightest star in our horizon. It sheds hope on our darkest fears; it reminds us that while iniquity is great and very rife in the land, divine goodness is raising up a host to meet it from the strong ones of the nation. May it not be your duty, reader, to join yourself to this host, and become one of the number to preach the gospel?

The benevolent institutions and movements of the age, depend for their success very much upon young men. They do not of course look to them for their largest pecuniary aid, but for device, courage, energy, labor, to originate means and urge them on. "A propensity rather to indulge the illusions of hope," says the History of Enthusiasm, "than to calculate probabilities, may seem almost

a necessary qualification for those who, in this world of abounding evil, are to devise the means of checking its triumphs. To raise fallen humanity from its degradation; to rescue the oppressed; to deliver the needy; to save the lost; are enterprises for the most part so little recommended by a fair promise of success, that few will engage in them but those who, by a happy infirmity of the reasoning faculty, are prone to hope where cautious men despond."

This general principle may be equally applied to those in the earlier periods of life, while yet hope, ardor, and enterprise predominate over the chastised, subdued, inoperative wisdom of advanced age. And hence, while wisdom, council, and funds must come principally from the more advanced, young men are the ones to strike plans, invent ways, and push on the wheels with courage, resolution, and labor.

You should however accompany your active efforts with the contribution of money, according to your means. A little given by a young man just starting in life, is worth as much as a large sum given later. Give systematically and from principle. If at any time you are unable to be present at the stated time for contributing to a benevolent object, which it is your principle to support, either send your contribution or double it the next time. Be sure that you do not forget this, and spend it in

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some other way; it would be a hazardous aggression upon the integrity of your principle.

Although it is desirable that you should accumulate a sufficient capital with which to pursue your business to advantage, yet do not suppose that you are exonerated from beneficence, or rather deprived of the privilege, till that point is gained. Consider a portion of the first dollar you obtain as sacred to benevolence; let the same principle go with you through life, and appropriate a portion of all your gains. This is infinitely important to the moral health and thrift of your own soul, as well as to your usefulness. The highest wisdom ever known has said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive," and that man has the true value of money yet to learn, who has not learned to do good with it. But while you give to public objects, remember also your family connections and other poor but worthy relatives and acquaintances. Some men neglect these, even while contributing with a becoming liberality to public objects. "These things ought you to do, and not to leave the other undone."

It will serve to help your benevolent principle, if you at once abandon all idea of laying up large property for your children, or of accumulating a fortune to retire and live upon. I do not say that men while in the vigor of life should make no provision for their children, or for the infirmities of

age; this I say, that they should hold themselves, their support, and of course all beyond, as devoted to a benevolent end; and this principle should graduate all their plans, gains, expenses, and benefactions.

As to acquiring a fortune to retire with, it is the severest deception that ever the adversary of human happiness played upon his covetous subjects. How selfish, how miserable it is, when a man has secured the means of rendering extensive benefit to the world, that he should retire from active service and lavish it upon his indolence and pleasure!

But he is usually punished. Almost never is he a happy man, from the moment he retires to a life of inactive indulgence. He builds his fine house, plants his gardens, gravels his walks, smooths his plats and lawns, makes his pools and fountains of water; stores his cellar with an abundance of the choicest wines; gets to him men servants and maidens puts all things in order - then he says, "I shall die in my nest, I shall multiply my days as the sand."

But scarcely does one short month expire, before he begins to be discontented. Then does he say in his heart, as did the Frenchman who built the goodly mansion a little this side of Jamaica pond, as you go from Boston. Having made his fortune, built his house, and gathered about him all the means of earthly enjoyment, he soon became un