them that is not already known? Do you needlessly make disrespectful comments on what is known?

16. Evil speaking, is a most ruinous evil, a pest in society; it scatters and weakens all good feelings, peace and order, and is destructive to the virtue and character of all who indulge in it, especially to youth.

17. All such things as talking, whispering or laughing with some favorite one, in ridicule about this or that one, making very free with some, and at the same time being very shy and backward, where there ought to be openness and freedom, are improper and wrong. But why should any want to do such things? What possible good can it do? No one can tell. But the evil that it does, is easily told, and will have to be felt with pain, by those who do so.

18. And, beloved youth, when you feel a disposition to speak evil of others, stop and consider whether you are willing to be treated so; think what feelings it would produce in you, to overhear others speaking evil of you, or whether you would be willing they should overhear you.

19. Such things lead those who practice them, directly into a disorderly union, into clubs and combinations, privacies and forbidden evil confederacies, entirely opposed to that free and innocent deportment that virtuous people maintain.

20. Those who practice such things, show out a selfconceited, haughty sense, as though they thought themselves very noble; while others were very mean, and fit for nothing but to be ridiculed and laughed at. And

such cannot fail of losing the good and safe union of the body, and finally falling off, and sinking to destruction.

21. They who needlessly speak evil of others, more or less deprive them of their character, honor and happiness; and so far, they wiH lose their own honor and happiness. This is a very great evil among people, and yet, how common! How many carelessly commit this wrong, and never think how they are injuring others, and that they, themselves, will yet have to feel the result of it, and suffer for every atom of evil they have ever caused in this way.

22. Therefore, beloved youth, we beseech you, shun these things. Gather to your lead, and seek your nearest union to those who can administer the most good and strength; speak evil of no one, if you can help it; and if you speak at all, speak with reserve, in love to the person, and in sorrow for that which is really evil, but never live and feast on the failings of others.

23. You are now in a peculiar stage of life, and your present conduct will have a very great and extensive effect on your future condition, both in time and eternity. You are old enough to exercise understanding, and to reflect seriously on the consequences of your doings.

24. You ought to consider the end, and certain consequence of your existence, and that it is impossible for you to escape death, judgment and eternity, and that you will certainly meet the result of every thought, word and action of your life.

event.

25. Honor and happiness are what all desire in the Is it not, therefore, of the greatest importance, that you seriously consider what will tend to your final happiness?

26. Come then, beloved young friends, draw near to us, and attend with care to what we say, and we will perhaps, enlighten your minds. What is honor, but the enjoyment of a good name, and what is happiness, but the reward of virtuous deeds?

27. Again, how is a good name obtained, but by walking uprightly, and agreeably in the sight of those with whom we are connected? And how are virtuous deeds performed, but by self-denial, and restraint upon the present cravings of every evil passion, and carefully shunning every thing that does not tend to virtue? Surely, these are questions of the greatest importance to all.

28. So be not discouraged at the trials you meet, remember there is no prize without a sacrifice, no crown without à cross. Choose the road to happiness, and make up your minds to serve God. Do not delay the work of preparing for eternity. Devote yourselves to God. Give up your whole souls to serve your Maker, for He is a sure pay-master, and you will shortly be rewarded to your full satisfaction.

29. Say not in your hearts, "There is time enough yet," you know not how short your days are on earth, when death will call you hence. Say not, "A little folly here, and a little wrong there, will not make much odds." Every thought, word and deed, that you bring forth, helps to make up your life; these are the atoms

that form your characters, these are the seeds you sow for futurity, and the consequences of these you will have to reap, and for these, lament or rejoice.

SECTION VII.

Of suitable respect in youth, to the concern that others feel in their welfare.

1. Beloved Youth, We well know, that you are in a critical period of life; you unavoidably meet with many trials, the enticements of nature beset you on every hand, the pleasures of this world invite you with alluring charms, and the path of virtue is filled with crosses and apparent discouragements. You feel an undue force of free agency, desiring to choose and act for yourselves; and the eyes of all are upon you, to judge of your merit or demerit. All this will be, and must be.

2. And here is a point of great danger; in all this you are exposed not to be governed by a true principle, a principle which will govern you, in all you say and do, to act with a view to future consequences, agreeable to what is stated in the preceding section: a principle which anticipates the final result, and does not allow you to act from the impulse of present passion or inclination.

3. You are exposed to feel that others, (particularly older ones, and those you will acknowledge are virtuous,) are watching you through some wrong motives,

or with too much jealousy or concern. And thus while they are in truth feeling for you with all the tenderness, concern and good will they are capable of, being able, willing and desirous to do you much good, you are liable to miss the good you might receive, just because you have a wrong idea of their feelings.

4. Many unwise and highminded youth, have resented the concern of others for them, and carried the matter so far, as purposely to act in a way to excite the suspicion of others, "to see what a fuss they would make," (as they call it,) and then vent out their resentment, at other's feeling so dreadfully concerned about them! and, perhaps boast among their companions, that they did it on purpose.

5. Such conduct is contemptible, and they who do such things, unless they seasonably repent, will catch themselves in a trap, from which they will not easily escape, and they will be accountable, for all the error they lead others into. This presumptuous folly, seems like a certain crazy man, who, being confined, had keepers to watch him continually; and he took it into his head, to see how he could scare his watchers by making attempts to dash his head against the chimney, while they sprang to catch him lest he should dash out his own brains!

6. How many there have been, who have fallen off and turned from the path of virtue and true faith, who harbored this kind of sense, and plainly showed it out. Greatly displeased because people were jealous of them, and "dreadfully concerned, for fear they would go off,"