love of thine espousals." But, alas! I have devoted the best season to the worst purposes; and my bones, full of the sins of my youth, remind me, that, to the indulgence of a moment, I have sacrificed my happiness. Loathsome insects rioting on the blossoms of the tree are an emblem of the blasting influences of the vices of youth.

What a different scene would the succeeding stages of life have exhibited to him had youth been devoted to piety'! Religion would have sanctified his connexions and directed his pursuits; but the evil principles and practices of an undisciplined youth lead to their wider and more audacious operations amidst the various scenes of active life.

There are various events in life which are peculiarly adapted to impress us with serious ideas: such as the illness and death of relatives. A pious father or mother sinking into the grave, supported by religious comfort, and manifesting the faith and patience of the saints, is a most affecting sight. It is fitted to convince the careless of the necessity of religion, and of the happiness which it yields, and to make them say, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." A wicked parent, dying in anguish and terror, is powerfully adapted to strike the heart with dismay, and to make us shun the course of those who live without God and without hope in the world; yet there are aged persons who must lament that they derived no lasting benefit from such scenes. I was. agitated and afflicted for a little, but, ah! with what haste did I flee from the power of sorrow, and drown my reflections in the gaieties of the house

of mirth! And some have had to lament, that from the side of the deathbed, and from the mouth of the grave, their heart went after its covetousness.

There are aged persons who feel that this is no picture of the fancy, and who can say that they have often in secret bemoaned themselves thus :-"The first corpse I ever saw was that of my sister, my companion in my early sports, my associate at school, the confidant of all my griefs and joys; whose gentle voice calmed my angry passions, and whose meek wisdom restrained me from many a folly. I saw her sinking into the grave full of faith and joy, solacing her parents with words of peace; and while she held my hand in hers, her last counsels were those of earnest entreaty to me to devote my heart and life to the love and service of her Redeemer. I promised that I would; and my sobs and tears seemed a pledge of my sincerity; but, ah! these vows were forgotten, and her piety, which should have animated me to goodness, cannot now rise before me but to fill me with shame."

The season of personal affliction has often been useful. The heart, sickening at worldly follies, and feeling the powers of the world to come, seems on the point of entering into the kingdom of God; yet doth it in some cases pass away, bearing with it every serious thought and purpose. And many aged sinners have lamented, that on the bed of languishing their whole attention was engrossed by the body; that, amidst the anxieties which they indulged about their worldly affairs, the interests of their souls were utterly neglected; that their wearisome hours were

spent in fretting against God; and that they came forth from the chamber of disease such in temper and conduct as sadly to exemplify these words of the Prophet, "Thou hast smitten them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction."*

The dispensation of religious ordinances presents many favourable opportunities for salvation. How admirably are the different scenes on the Sabbath adapted to form the heart to piety and to wisdom! The devotions of the sanctuary, the lessons of the pulpit, and the rest and quietness of our dwellings, are all fitted for this great object; yet the aged sinner has reason to reflect, that public worship was neglected by him on that day; that the hours he should have occupied in it were spent in secular business or in excursions for amusement; and that when he came to the house of God, it was with a mind preoccupied with worldly cares, and a heart disinclined to spiritual religion. How many of them may lament that the pious lessons of a father's house on a Sabbath evening passed away without their knowing the God of their fathers or learning to serve him; and that the services of domestic instruction, so favourable to the piety both of parents and of children, have been omitted on the most frivolous pretexts, or performed as a tiresome drudgery!

Sacramental solemnities bring with them many advantages for salvation. The topics discussed are of

Jer. v. 3.

of mirth! And some have had to lament, that from the side of the deathbed, and from the mouth of the grave, their heart went after its covetousness.

There are aged persons who feel that this is no picture of the fancy, and who can say that they have often in secret bemoaned themselves thus :-"The first corpse I ever saw was that of my sister, my companion in my early sports, my associate at school, the confidant of all my griefs and joys; whose gentle voice calmed my angry passions, and whose meek wisdom restrained me from many a folly. I saw her sinking into the grave full of faith and joy, solacing her parents with words of peace; and while she held my hand in hers, her last counsels were those of earnest entreaty to me to devote my heart and life to the love and service of her Redeemer. I promised that I would; and my sobs and tears seemed a pledge of my sincerity; but, ah! these vows were forgotten, and her piety, which should have animated me to goodness, cannot now rise before me but to fill me with shame."

The season of personal affliction has often been useful. The heart, sickening at worldly follies, and feeling the powers of the world to come, seems on the point of entering into the kingdom of God; yet doth it in some cases pass away, bearing with it every serious thought and purpose. And many aged sinners have lamented, that on the bed of languishing their whole attention was engrossed by the body; that, amidst the anxieties which they indulged about their worldly affairs, the interests of their souls were utterly neglected; that their wearisome hours were

spent in fretting against God; and that they came forth from the chamber of disease such in temper and conduct as sadly to exemplify these words of the Prophet, "Thou hast smitten them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction."*

The dispensation of religious ordinances presents many favourable opportunities for salvation. How admirably are the different scenes on the Sabbath adapted to form the heart to piety and to wisdom! The devotions of the sanctuary, the lessons of the pulpit, and the rest and quietness of our dwellings, are all fitted for this great object; yet the aged sinner has reason to reflect, that public worship was neglected by him on that day; that the hours he should have occupied in it were spent in secular business or in excursions for amusement; and that when he came to the house of God, it was with a mind preoccupied with worldly cares, and a heart disinclined to spiritual religion. How many of them may lament that the pious lessons of a father's house on a Sabbath evening passed away without their knowing the God of their fathers or learning to serve him; and that the services of domestic instruction, so favourable to the piety both of parents and of children, have been omitted on the most frivolous pretexts, or performed as a tiresome drudgery!

Sacramental solemnities bring with them many advantages for salvation. The topics discussed are of

* Jer. v. 3.