amplitude, unfpeakably foothing to the Soul; who feldom perceives herfelf fo amiable, or fo respectable, as when flaming and expanding with the love of kindred minds, and pursuing plans of communicated happiness. That, which the most enlightened, and the most elevated fpirits, of every age and country, have unanimously concurred to extol, muft undoubtedly poffefs fome intrinfic and tranfcendent worth and dignity, befide the nameless advantages which accrue from it.

But you, my young auditors, have no need of high encomiums on Friendship, to raise it in your eftimation. Youth is the favourite foil of this, as of all the other focial affections. In men whom age has cooled, and experience cautioned, who have fuffered from the worthleffnefs of many, and from the felfifhnefs of more, the fund of confidence and fenfibility, with which they began the world, is too often exhausted: they are little inclined

to form new connexions; and, however they may cherish fuch as are old, partly through the power of habit, and partly through the remembrance of that fmiling season from whofe contemplation, even long after it is paft, they now and then catch a reviving ray, yet the enthusiasm with which they then loved is felt no more, unlefs perhaps by a very few hearts originally caft in a finer mould. Safety and ease are chiefly fought by declining Nature: neceffity fucceeds to choice; and the charm of fervent efteem and fond complacence is chilled and fhrivelled by the coldness of worldly policy.

But fuch, alas! is the mixed condition of humanity, as to admit of no advantage without fome abatement. At the fame time that the young are qualified to enjoy intenfely all that is most exquifite in the fweeteft emotions of the bosom, there is infinite danger, left they be hurried by eagerness, or betrayed by credulity, into

extravagant attachments and pernicious intimacies, under the fpecious semblance of Friendship. By expecting more from its gratification than it can give where it is realifed, and by feeking that gratification where it cannot be found, endless disappointments are fuftained, and fatal mischiefs are incurred. The good, which might be obtained in the line of moderation, is loft in the pursuit of a phantom: chagrin, difguft, and dark suspicion, are generally the refult through the rest of life; and numbers, that fet out with kind. affections and laudable fentiments, finding themfelves deceived and undone by unprincipled companions, whom they meant to cultivate as Virtuous Friends, are prompted to conclude, that Friendship and Virtue are empty names; a conclufion big with wretchednefs, horror, and defperation.

To the prevention of thefe evils we would willingly contribute, by warning

you to avoid unreasonable hopes, and to stand on your guard against the impostures and the hazards, to which your honest ardour, and your little experience, may lay you open, from the falfe, the frivolous, the licentious, and the low.

It is painful to think, that youth have commonly least discretion when they want it moft; I mean, when they are contracting regards, and forming unions, which may probably determine the colour of their whole existence. Happy, indeed, beyond comparison, are thofe young men, whom the wife conduct of their parents or other connexions, or fome peculiar favour of Providence operating in whatever manner, has carly led into fafe and honourable affociations, not only in the road of study, or of bufinefs, but in that which chiefly engages the heart, and gives the most immediate direction to its principal .move

ments.

This, my beloved hearers, this I conceive to be the great decifive point of time,' the awful æra, at which your character and fate are ufually fixed for ever. And, O incomprehenfible Power, who prefideft over all, on what flight, unimagined, and almost unperceived contingencies, does fo mighty a concern feem frequently to depend! Is circumfpection then or vigilance, is counsel or admonition, wholly precluded? We hope not; and while we devoutly pray, that Heaven may place you in fituations the moft aufpicious for the formation and culture of the beft attachments, it may still be of ufe to point out fome capital mistakes, that are daily committed in this momentous affair.

There is indeed a class of mortals, on whom no advice, refpecting this or any other matter, can imprefs wisdom, and for whom, when they fuffer for want of it, there is no reason to feel much regret. We have seldom seen, that the airy and