grow restless and weary of their choice. Consider then, is the calling I am about to choose lawful in itself, and suitable for me? have I means proportioned to the end, capácity sufficient to attain the knowledge of it; strength and patience to bear its burdens; and substance to support the expenses? Otherwise, like the foolish builder, after you have laid the foundation, you will not be able to finish, and thereby expose yourself to sorrow and shame. If you are fitted for callings of different excellence, it is our wisdom and duty to choose that in which we may most eminently serve GOD, and the community.

2d. Let faithful, judicious persons be consulted, especially of the same calling. They are the fittest judges in their own profession, as they best know the conveniences and inconveniences, attending it, and the qualifications requisite for it: great regard therefore should be had to their advice, supposing them judicious and faithful. Let the young be persuaded to submit their judgments to persons of experience and fidelity, and steer their course by their advice. Then, should they be unsuccessful, this reflection will yield them support, "that they were not ruined by their own rashness?" and they will find

persons ready to assist a man of conduct and prudence in his distress, who would despise the man of humour and caprice.

3d. Choose such a calling and place as may not be dangerous to the mind. There are some callings, which are in themselves lawful, and sufficiently gainful, in which, nevertheless, as they are at present manag ed, none who regard the precious and immortal soul, would fix their children; because the temptations which attend them are so many and great, that it is next to impossible to be preserved from the conta gion of vice and immorality in them.There are places also, which on account of business would be deservedly preferred, and yet by the supineness and neglect of masters in the government of their families, and the infection of evil servants, who are the bane of youth, they are rendered equally destructive. Deal not worse by your children, than you would by the herd of the stall, or the sheep of the fold. Expose not their immortal souls to such eminent hazard for any momentary gain; for "what will it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matt. xvi. 26. Let them be situated where GoD is reverently worshipped,

and his day religiously observed; where the weakness and impetuosity of youthful dispositions, may be under a wholesome restraint, and they may be taught to live for time and eternity. For, permit me to say, that if their lives and manners are not regulated by reason and religion, they will be as far from happines in this world, as they are from the warrantable hopes of a better.

4th. Let the divine providence be acknowledged, by earnest supplications for direction and assistance. It is GOD that appointeth the bounds and places of our habitation, that by a sense of our dependence upon him, we might be induced to seek after him, Acts xvii. 26. It is part of the reasonable homage which intelligent and dependent creatures owe to the supreme Creator and Governor of all, to acknowledge him in all their ways; in doing this we are allowed to hope that he will direct our paths; Prov. iii. 6. but in the neglect of it, as we have no right to expect the guidance or blessing of heaven, so it will be no wonder if we meet with disappointment and distress. Gop only knows all the temptations and difficulties, advantages and disadvantages of the several situations in life, and our strength and fitness to

bear them. He has often directed the honest humble enquirer, sometimes by persons and means unknown and unthought of, into the way most conducive to his present comfort and future happiness. It is our best interest, as well as our proper duty to leave him to "choose our inheritance for us." Psal. xlvii. 4.

5th. In concurrence with the foregoing directions, let the person's inclination be consulted; which if it is strongly and reasonably fixed on any particular calling, is one method whereby we receive the direction of providence, and a good step to a proper choice. Persons generally make the best proficiency in, and most easily bear the inconveniences of those employments and situations, to which their natural dispositions incline them.

"I would seek unto GoD, and unto God would I commit my cause, Job v. 8.

Proper dispositions and views, are equally necessary with a suitable choice of an employment. As we are beings possessed of reason, and directed in the exercise of it by a revelation from GOD; it concerns us that the views and motives of all our actions, and the disposition and manner in which they are conducted, be agreeable to the directions heaven has given to lead us

in the paths of duty and happiness, and worthy of the reasonable natures with which we are endowed. Now to this end it is especially necessary that the mind be influenced and directed by the principles of religion. We may justly impute the miscarriage of thousands, to their unadvised and irreligious introduction into life; they go to universities and trades, without any sense of duty or danger, and being unarmed, are soon surprised by those temptations with which an evil world is filled, and which a depraved nature is too ready to embrace, to their utter ruin and destruction. To prevent this, labour after a true understanding of the christian religion, and regulate your tempers and conduct by it in every scene of life.

1.Let a sincere love and reverence of Gon, and desire of his acceptance and favour through Christ Jesus, be the governing spring and motive of all your actions. When the mind is devoted to GOD, and bent on pleasing him, we have the strongest security against present guilt and folly, and future misery and punishment. If we sincerely serve him, he will surely bless us; he will interest himself in our concerns, support us under our difficulties, give us the direction of his wisdom, and