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21. But beloved youth, be not discouraged at this. Though the wheels of time move slowly, and the desired period delays its coming, yet the seasons are sure to progress. The still closed bud will soon expand with blooming beauty and sweet perfume: those blossoms already put forth, must soon be exchanged for the more promising substance of young and tender fruit: and finally will appear the noble, but not so gay, the less charming, but more profitable production of full and ripe fruit, with all its beauties and usefulness.

22. But if at any time you find yourselves dissatisfied with your present lot, and desiring a more forward condition, then remember the fable of the young fruit tree, which, beholding full grown and old trees all around it, loaded with precious and beautiful fruit, earnestly prayed to be in the same condition; its prayer was immediately granted, but alas, with ruinous effects! for its burden was greater than its capacity; its branches broke beneath the weight ere the fruit was full grown; the trunk was marred by the breaking off of its main limbs, and but very little of its fruit ever came to perfection.

23. Thus deprived of its beauty, and spoiled for future usefulness, with all its credit gone, the poor tree fell beneath irrecoverable ruin and contempt.

24. Be not afraid of having to be too long under the government of those who are older; but consider, that admitting others hold too much right over you, it is much more honorable in you to conform sufficiently to keep union, than it is to rise in your feelings, and show a self importance.

25. Consider, that the present loss of your own ways cannot deprive you of future freedom and usefulness; but what union you now gain by conformity and agreeable deportment, will be a great help to your future days. It is a truth, that a conformable person will more freely enjoy his own judgment, be entrusted farther, and be happier, than one who is often seeking his own way in opposition to others.

SECTION II.

Remarks on the Youthful State.

1. There is no stage of life, in which persons are more apt to feel self-important, than from the age of fifteen to twenty, and for this reason: The mind and faculties are growing into manhood, and the body comes nearly or quite to its full stature. This agrees with an aspiring nature, and answers a long expected attainment.

2. They can now be more upon a par with grown people; their strength increases, and this fills them with ambition; they can lift, and do this or that, nearly or quite equal to any body. They are spry and rugged, and can out-wind a great many that are far before

them; this heightens their ambitious views.

3. They have also come to some understanding, and are capable of exercising some reason; this delights them much, and it is very pleasing to their vanity if they but conceit they can see a little further than those of greater experience.

4. Another thing is quite exalting to some youthful minds; viz. letter-learning; their feelings glory in equaling or surpassing others; but there is no end to this kind of chase, and many have run to fatal ruin in this

way.

5. Such are the charms so delighting to young minds; such is the flowery path of youth's enticing nature, where disguised enemies hold up to view the specious allurements of imaginary happiness; but within, are concealed the fatal weapons against the soul.

6. Hundreds of youthful snares and appetites might be mentioned, which are of a similar nature, and require to be strictly guarded against.

7. These things appear extremely enticing to youth; and the ambitious zeal, and craving sense of young minds are so allured by, and dote so much upon such charms, that they cannot endure the thought of being restricted; and if there is any thing said, which strikes against their opinions, it feels very galling.

8. They shudder at the thought of not being so forward as they conceited themselves to be; and in attempting to prove the matter in their favor, they often betray a shameful forwardness, and expose their weakness.

9. But these things are all vanity; like empty bubbles they are soon passed and gone forever; and all these glittering allurements, that seem to grace the way before you in the things of time, will become dim as you advance.

10. You imagine that riper years will give you greater scope for the exercise and improvement of your own

opinions. True; for if you were never to arrive to that state, in which you could choose and act measurably for yourselves, you could not be subject to rewards or punishments.

11. But observe; if you are faithful, your obligations and restrictions to do right, the concern and burden of your duty, and the many labors and troubles which you must pass through, and which it is impossible for you to know at present, will far overbalance all the pleasure you can take in thinking and acting for yourselves. Experience must prove this.

12. These are solemn truths, and the foregoing are the principal channels of youthful danger. Some more particular cautions may be useful.

SECTION III.

Of Devotion to God.

1. Devotion to God, is the whole duty of man; it is the law of God to Moses, and the Prophets; it is the law of Christ, the Son of God. "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." (Deut. vi, 5.)

2. Devotion is the offspring of love, without which, no action can be done with sincere motives to do good; without it the soul must die; without it, man to God must always be a stranger; without it, Heaven would be a wilderness, a barren waste.

3. The more we exercise the feeling of love, of

gratitude, of submission towards God, the more intense and habitual will our feelings of devotion become. But it is not enough to think and talk of devotion, or to end our toil with feelings devoted; but we should perform devotional services, with our tongues, hands and feet; devote every faculty of soul and body to God, in doing good; and, when assembled for devotional worship, let the sense be withdrawn from terrestrial cares, and labor to be filled with the spirit of God.

4. Be given up to the spirit of good, as clay in the hands of the potter; subject to be fashioned any way or in any form, to suit his purpose; for, depend upon it, beloved youth, our God is a perfect Artist, and can form a vessel to suit his purpose, better than can be done by the wisdom of man; and, when He hath formed it to his will and cleansed it in the furnace, tried and proved it by fire, is capable of filling it with the riches of his kingdom of peace, the food for every living soul.

5. Therefore, be given up to do his will, and be led by his Spirit which is order and righteousness, and you cannot miss of Heaven, you cannot miss of a just reward. Unto whom would you look for a more just reward for every act of devotional service? All good belongs to God. The spirit of unsubdued man is treacherous; devote not yourselves to serve this spirit, either in yourself or others; but God in man, manifested by obedience to his will, you must obey.

6. Would you devote your time and talents self to please, who then will reward your services? Your course of pleasure, God might in a moment end; time is not

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