IV.

manners less agreeable; and by aukward SERMON attempts to please, produces contempt. Cheerfulness is becoming in every age. But the proper cheerfulness of a man is as different from the levity of the boy, as the Alight of the eagle is from the fluttering of a sparrow in the air.

As all unseasonable returns to the levity of youth ought to be laid aside,-an admonition which equally belongs to both the sexes, still more are we to guard against those intemperate indulgences of pleasure, to which the young are unhappily prone. From these we cannot too soon retreat. They open the path to ruin, in every period of our days. As long, however, as these excesses are confined to the first stage of life, hope is left, that when this fever of the spirits shall abate, sobriety may gain the ascendant, and wiser counsels have power to influence conduct. But after the season

of youth is past, if its intemperate spirit
remain; if, instead of listening to the calls
of honour, and bending attention to the
cares and the business of men, the same
course of idleness and sensuality continue
to be pursued, the case becomes more
VOL. III.
F
desperate.

SERMON desperate. A sad presumption arises, that IV. long immaturity is to prevail; and that the pleasures and passions of the youth are to sink and overwhelm the man. Difficult, I confess, it may prove to overcome the attachments which youthful habits had for a long while been forming. Hard, at the beginning is the task, to impose on our conduct restraints which are altogether unaccustomed and new. But this is a trial which every one must undergo, in entering on new scenes of action, and new periods of life. Let those who are in this situation bethink themselves that all is now at stake. Their character and honour, their future fortune and success in the world, depend in a great measure on the steps they take, when first they appear on the stage of active life. The world then looks to them with an observing eye. It studies their behaviour; and interprets all their motions, as presages of the line of future conduct which they mean to hold. Now, therefore, put away childish things; dismiss your former trifling amusements, and youthful pleasures; blast not the hopes which your friends are willing to conceive of you.

II. To point out the particular duties which open to those who are in the middle period of life. They are now come forward to that field of action where they are to mix in all the stir and bustle of the world; where all the human powers are brought forth into full exercise; where all that is conceived to be important in human affairs is incessantly going on around them. The time of youth was the preparation for future action. In old age our active part is supposed to be finished, and rest is permitted. Middle age is the season when we are expected to display the fruits which education had prepared and ripened. In this world, all of us were formed to be assistants to one another. The wants of society call for every man's labour, and require various departments to be filled up. They require that some be appointed to rule, and others to obey; some to defend the society from danger, others to mainF 2

tain

IV.

SERMON tain its internal order and peace; some to provide the conveniences of life, others to promote the improvement of the mind ; many to work; others to contrive and direct. In short, within the sphere of society there is employment for every one; and in the course of these employments, many a moral duty is to be performed; many a religious grace to be exercised. No one is permitted to be a mere blank in the world. No rank, nor station, no dignity of birth, nor extent of possessions, exempt any man from contributing his share to public utility and good. This is the precept of God. This is the voice of nature. This is the just demand of the human race upon one

another.

One of the first questions, therefore, which every man who is in the vigour of his age should put to himself is, " What "am I doing in this world? What have " I yet done, whereby I may glorify God, " and be useful to my fellows? Do I properly fill up the place which belongs to my rank and station? Will any memo"rial remain of my having existed on the

IV.

away, now when I might be of some SERMON importance in the system of human af"fairs?"-Let not any man imagine that he is of no importance, and has, upon that account, a privilege to trifle with his days at pleasure. Talents have been given to all; to some ten; to others; five; to others two. Occupy with these* till I come, is the command of the great Master to all. Where superior abilities are possessed, or distinguished advantages of fortune are enjoyed, a wider range is afforded for useful exertion, and the world is entitled to expect it. But among those who fill up the inferior departments of society, though the sphere of usefulness be more contracted, no one is left entirely insignificant. Let us remember, that in all stations and conditions, the important relations take place, of masters and servants, husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and friends, citizens and subjects. The discharge of the duties arising from those various relations, forms a great portion of the work assigned to