do, about trifling little things which they call signs of good or bad luck; about telling or interpreting dreams; aud about ghosts, and other wonderful things which they fancy they see in the night. Before people begin to talk of such things, or to listen to them, they should recollect what the Apostle Paul says, in his first Epistle to Timothy (iv. 7 :) "Refuse profane and old wives' fables; and exercise thyself rather unto godliness."

:

4. On sabbath-breaking.

A very sensible farmer used to say, that if servants would not serve their Maker, on a Sunday, there could not be much dependence on them, to serve their mas ters, during the remainder of the week.

Many persons have confessed at the gallows, that profaning the Lord's day, was the beginning of that wicked course of life, which had brought them to so disgraceful, and so sad an end.

5. On drunkenness.

What a terrible thing drunkenness is! How odious the drunken man looks! How foolishly he talks, and behaves! How vilely he throws away his Maker's best gifts: reason, time, health, peace of mind, and the power of doing good, and being good! If he has a wife and family, what comfort, or assistance, can they receive from him? or how can they look up to him, with love, honour, and confidence? How cruelly he neglects, abuses, and robs them! What a shameful example he sets them! Often, perhaps, they are afraid, or ashamed, to see him and yet, when he is not with them, they are full of fears about him. "Perhaps," say they, "he will fall, and kill himself: or perhaps he will get into foolish quarrels, and fight; and be taken to prison, as

a disturber of the peace, or a murderer! and then what will become of him?"

But often, very often, the family of the drunkard are as idle and wicked as himself; and they care little for him, or for one another. There is no true love or peace among them. Drunkenness, and wickedness of various kinds, are all their delight, and all they care about.

Young persons! beware of every temptation to drunkenness. Beware of the alehouse, the pot-house, the tap-room, the liquor-shop. Beware of every occasion, every place, every person, that would allure you to drink more than is proper for you. It is almost impossible to make you fully understand the extreme folly and wickedness of drunkenness; and the danger of it, both to body and soul.-It is much easier to refrain wholly from drinking at first, than at last. There is no vice that is learned with so much ease, or left off with so much difficulty, as drunkenness. It has been very truly said: "A poor lad going to an alehouse, is like a silly fish going to drink in a hoop net. It is easy to get in; but he does not know how to find his way out." They who, in their early years, use themselves to drinking any kind of strong liquor, are in great danger of becoming drunkards. Never be persuaded to take any gin, rum, or brandy, or a dram of any kind, unless, in time of sickness, it is particularly recommended to you, by a doctor or some discreet person. as a medicine. Dram drinking, sooner than any other kind of drinking, makes people unfit for any thing good; and destroys their health, and peace of mind. When you are much exposed to cold, wet weather, especially at nights, try to keep yourselves warnı,

not by taking drams, or any strong drink, but by proper clothing, by exercise, and by rubbing your hands, and feet, and other parts of your body that are most affected by the cold or wet. Never accustom yourselves to drink except at meal times: drinking often and much, only occasions more thirst; and is a great hinderance of work. At public houses the wicked meet together ; and often lay plans of folly and wickedness. There, they draw in thoughtless young persons, and teach them to drink, and curse, and swear, and game; to go after cockfights, and barrels of beer; to neglect their lawful business, and their duty to God and man; to become poachers, smugglers, thieves, and vagabonds! "What a number of alehouses, and pot-houses," says a very sensible man, has the devil set up in every part of the country! It is enough to make one's hair stand on end, to hear of such doings. There is hardly a village where you may not find one of these bad houses. Here the devil keeps school. Many a poor lad might have done well, if he had not been drawn into these wicked places. Look at those who frequent them. You will always find them idle, profligate people; esteemed by nobody, doing good to nobody; suffering their poor families, if they have any, to live in rags, and filth, and wretchedness."

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Shameful, and abominably wicked, are the lives of drunkards! and dreadful will their lot be hereafter; for it is written in God's most holy book, (1 Corinthians vi. 10,) that "Drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God!"

6. On marriage.

Young persons! if ever you think of marrying, and wish to be happy, useful, and respectable, as husbands

and wives, fathers and mothers; earnestly endeavour to improve in all Christian virtue, especially in humility, patience, meekness, and contentedness. Lay up as great a stock, as possible, of money, honestly and fairly gained; of good principles; and of good humour. Neglect no proper opportunity of improving in habits of industry and frugality; and of learning the art of supporting and managing a family, in a decent, comfortable, and orderly manner. Avoid, as much as possible, keeping company with idle and profane people. Never entertain the most distant idea of marrying any persons but those whom your parents and friends approve; who are diligent in their business, sober, and prudent; who are free from debt; (for if people run into debt when they are single, what can be expected from them, when they have families to maintain?) and, above all, who fear and serve the Lord. They who marry drunkards, spendthrifts, or profane persons, must expect nothing but shame and misery: certain shame and misery in this world; and, perhaps, shame and misery even in the world to come, for it is to be feared, many have been ruined for ever, by thoughtless, ill-advised marriages.

Do not marry too young: nor till you have a prospect of maintaining a family comfortably and honourably nor till you have often, and seriously, reflected what an awful engagement marriage is, and the many cares and duties it will bring upon you; and have earnestly and humbly prayed to your heavenly Father, to direct and bless your choice; to guard you from danger, on the right hand and on the left; and to enable you by the assistance of his holy Spirit, to perform the duties of the new state of life into which he is pleased

to call you.

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and

he shall direct thy paths *."

SECTION 12.

Striking instances of sobriety, industry, and frugality.

1. The widow.

After the death

IN a village about three miles from Northampton, lived a poor, but very good woman. of her husband, she had, with great difficulty, and much patience, diligence, and humility, brought up a large family of children, without being chargeable to the parish; which, as it was quite beyond her hope, she often spoke of with great delight. At length, when worn out with age and infirmity, she lay upon her dying bed, she expressed, in a most lively and affecting manner, her hope of future glory and happiness. Yet amidst all the comfort of such a prospect, there was one thing that lay heavy on her mind: which was, that as her journey, and her stock of provisions, were both ended together, she feared that she must either be buried at the parish expense; or that her most affectionate daughters, to perform the last office of duty to her, (which she had reason to believe they would do,) must strip the house of some of the few movables remaining in it.—While she was struggling with this last distress, Dr. Doddridge, though he did not know the extremity of her illness, came in; and brought with him a guinea, which colonel Gardiner, on hearing the character of the family, had sent for their relief. This present, (probably the most considerable

* Proverbs iii. 6.