Let us "costly wines and ointments; and let no "flower of the spring pass by us. " crown ourselves with rose-buds before they "be withered. Let none of us go without "his part of our voluptuousness. Let us "leave tokens of our joyfulness in every "place; for this is our portion, and our "lot is this." * This language cannot be wondered at, from the man who rejects all idea of a future existence. But it would be folly and madness in him, who believes the Christian doctrine of a surrection, and a retribution in another world. To him the conclusion, from the very same premises, must be a directly opposite one. It must be plainly this ; Let us keep our hearts with all diligence, and restrain our passions within the bounds of duty, for to-morrow we may die; to-morrow we may be called to give an account of our moral conduct to the great Sovereign of the Universe, who has peremptorily commanded us to be temperate in all things. Let this consideration, then, be deeply fixed in our hearts, and be constantly present to . * Wisdom, ii. 6. 10. our thoughts, and it will, in the hour of trial, add strength to our resolutions, and fortitude to our souls. It is not, it must be confessed, a very easy task to keep that strict and steady command over ourselves which Christianity requires. But we must not be much surprised, if the rewards of Heaven are not to be had for nothing. Immortal glory, and everlasting felicity, are not such very trivial things, as to be obtained without any exertions on our part. Some price must surely be paid for such an acquisition, something must be given up in present for an inheritance of such infinite value in future. "There is but one paradise "for men," said Mahomet, (turning away his eyes from the tempting prospect of Damascus,) "there is but one paradise for men, and, "for my part, I will not take mine in this "world." If this sensual impostor could, in this instance at least, sacrifice present gratification even to his false notions of future happiness, well may we be content to endure a little temporary self-denial for the sake of a recompense hereafter, perfect in its nature, and endless in its duration. It * Maundrell, p. 121. is true, indeed, that, taking all things into the account, the yoke of our Divine Master is easy, and his burthen is light. Yet still there is a yoke, there is a burthen to bear. We are to take up our cross, and on that cross we are to crucify our affections and lusts. In the successive stages of our existence here, successive adversaries rise up to oppose our progress to Heaven, and bring us into captivity to sin and misery. Pleasure, interest, business, power, honour, fame, all the follies and all the corruptions of this world, each in their turn, assail our feeble nature, and through these we must manfully fight our way to the great end we have in view. But the difficulty and the pain of this contest will be infinitely lessened, by a resolute and vigorous exertion of our powers, and our resources, at our first setting out in life. If we strenuously resist those enemies of our salvation that present themselves to us in our earliest youth, all the rest that follow in our mature age will be an easy conquest. On him, who in the beginning of life has kept himself unspotted from the world, all its subsequent attractions and allurements, a a maincence, wealth, and splendour, ... mak: it or no impression. A mind na tee long habituated to discipline, retrain, and sel-command, amidst far more mærri. temptations, will have nothing to suprenent, frön. suci. assailants as these. I or great and principal security is asexstale: tron above, which will never be denie to those who fervently apply for it. An with the omnipotence of Divine grace sunnor, us, and an eternity of happiness TOWATI. US. what is there that can shake our constancy, or corrupt our fidelity ? Set yourselves then, without delay, to acour at early habit of strict self-government and at early intercourse with your Almighty Protector. Let it be your first ext to establish the sovereignty of reason, al the empire of grace, over your souls, à, Mo.. soon, he no pain to you; but, on KONAN ARTS, & Teal pleasure to be temper" Watch ye, stand fast in The damaged, Vourselves like men, be strong, VAR & Mtent. Look frequently up la, a så klar yon, lest ye be “ san, if your minds. Consider, you that every pang you feel on account of your duty here, will be placed to your credit, and increase your happiness, hereafter. The conflict with your passions will grow less. irksome every day: a few years will put an entire end to it; and will then, to your unspeakable comfort, be enabled to cry out with Saint Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid for me a crown of righteousness, which “the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give "me at that day." 66 66 66 up |