CONTENTS.

CHAPTER. I.

PROSPECTS OF OUR COUNTRY. Rapidity of its population;

physical resources; enterprising character of its inhabitants; civil

and political institutions; benevolent efforts; prospective elevation

and moral power; agency and responsibilities of its young men.

CHAPTER II.

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KNOWLEDGE. Nature and importance of knowledge; the

desirableness of securing it while young; acquired then most ea-

sily; the knowledge earliest acquired the longest retained; val-

uable capital; enables one to feel his own strength; saves from

grovelling temptations; -Two ways of obtaining knowledge - the

one observation and experience, the other books- both impor-

tant;-Theory and synthesis, analysis and induction ;— Objections

answered.

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CHAPTER III.

Must believe that

MEANS AND USES OF KNOWLEGE.

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you can

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obtain it—determine to do it—not expect or attempt too much at

once ascend the steps of knowledge in the order of nature;

simplicity and order of the universe ; - Public lectures what

kinds to attend, and how to derive knowledge from them. 63

CHAPTER IV.

PRINCIPLES. Principles defined; their importance; only safe
protection against the allurements of pleasure,—against the insinu-
ations of error; will secure to you the confidence of good men ;

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their growth important difficult to establish them in mature age-

God requires them ; — Right principles shown, as distinguished from

those of men of pleasure, honor, ambition, vanity, and secular mo-

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rality; The decalogue.

CHAPTER V.

87

EARLY HABITS. Importance of early habits; most easily

formed; hardest to alter; determine your society; secure or for-

feit public confidence; will probably determine the future character

and condition of the soul;-Most important habits to be formed --

due consideration and respect to superiors; temperance in all things;

engrossing attention; industry, frugality, and benevolence; pru-

dence and moderation; right use of the tongue; graduating all your

plans and conduct upon the scale of eternity.

RELIGION.

CHAPTER VI.

98

Internal and experimental evidence; the doc-

trine of inductive demonstration, as employed in natural science, ap-

plied to religion; Inferences-men are responsible for right religious

opinions; essential errors in religion cannot be innocent; impiety

persisted in produces dangerous or fatal error.

CHAPTER VII.

117

THE SACRED SCRIPTURES. Internal, experimental, and exter·

nal evidence defined ;· Authenticity, genuineness, and credibility of

the Old Testament; what constitutes proof; Traditionary testimony

to authenticity of the Pentateuch respecting the work of creation;

primeval paradise and human innocence; sacrifice for sin; prom-

ised Messiah; longevity; deluge; profane historians ;- Genuineness

of the Pentateuch; remaining Scriptures of the Old Testament.

how preserved.

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CHAPTER VIII.

147

NEW TESTAMENT. Does not teach a different religion from

the Old; Historical facts of Christianity; testimony of profane his-

torians of coins, medals, marbles, &c.— of the evangelists and

apostles — of the Jewish nation, and of others;—Genuineness; quoted

by the fathers; different sects; agreement of manuscripts; human

reverence for what is deemed sacred; fate of spurious copies. 168

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IX.

INSPIRATION OF THE SCRIPTURES.

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xi

Inspiration defined ;

testimony of the sacred writers; the facts of the Bible, especially

miracles; fulfillment of prophecies; harmony of the sacred wri-

ters; moral character and effects of the Bible; Difficulties and ob-

jections, to wit-inspiration contravenes the natural laws of mental

operation-the writers sometimes uttered what they did not under-

stand - the Bible contains the words of wicked men, &c. — records

wicked actions of good men is unchaste- contains irrelevant quo-

tations- if a true religion, would have been ere this known and

practiced in all the world; character and prospects of infidelity. 182

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CHAPTER X.

DANGERS OF YOUNG MEN. Capacities; evils they can do

to themselves. - their physical constitution - pecuniary interests and

prospects-intellect-conscience— reputation - moral character-

chance of salvation; Evils to others- to their parents-family-

community-our civil and benevolent institutions to the souls of

men; the expensiveness of sin; peculiar facilities and temptations of

young men to procure these evils to themselves and others.

CHAPTER XI.

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216

RETRIBUTION. A melancholy fact instructions derived from

it; parental errors in the treatment of their son; the successive steps

of wrong conduct in the son, illustrating the progress of sin; influ-

ence of infidelity; danger of impiety under the garb of mere secular

morality; how much may be lost.
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CHAPTER XII.

MORAL POWER OF YOUNG MEN. Their power to do good-

to their parents; sisters and families. female society - Sabbath

schools — pastor— religious, social, civil, and public relations — the

learned professions; benevolent institutions; the indigent and afflic-

Remarks upon civil and political duties; demagogues; office-

ted

seeking.

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CHAPTER XIII.

287

VARIOUS TOPICS relating to COMPLETENESS of character.
Health-cheerfulness, exercise, and recreation; regular hours;

cleanliness; bathing; swimming; care of the teeth; food-animal

and vegetable; drink-coffee, tea, chocolate, &c. ; wines, beers,

cordials, cider, and all alcoholic drinks; incidental remark upon

the nature of tobacco; medicine; mineral medicines; quackery ;

Business — apprenticeship; entering upon business; self-depend-

ence; caution; perseverance; bad debts-how prevented;-Re

finement and politeness — including purity of mind; kindness; at-

tention; dignity; ease; neatness; manners; female society; cor-

respondence; Games of all sorts; wherein exceptionable ;—

Entertainments-parties; upon Christian principles-upon un-

christian principles - &c. ;— Marriage—an ordinance of God;

early marriages; bachelors; disparity of age; character requisite

for a good wife; good disposition; domestic virtues; sound intel-

lect; agreeable appearance; neatness; sympathy; religion; on

marrying for money; coquetry; the matrimonial vow; duties of

the husband.

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CONCLUSION, on Christian balance of mind.

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401

YOUNG MAN'S AID.

CHAPTER I.

PROSPECTS OF OUR COUNTRY.

"A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation."

It

On looking at our country and its prospective influence upon the world, the first fact that strikes us is the unparalleled rapidity of its population. doubles once in twenty years. It has more than doubled twice since the Revolution. At this rate, in only one century from this time, our country will contain five hundred millions of inhabitants; which is half the present population of the whole globe. If no unforeseen disaster befall us, we see no reason for believing that this immense increase of population will not be actually realized. During the last half century it has not abated, but has steadily advanced; and the resources of our coun

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