which no one has a right to hope that he shal. make the attainment.

The diligent perusal of the Word of God is one of the most obvious and important of the means of grace. The Bible was given us to be "a light to our feet, and a lamp to our path." It exhibits, with unerring fidelity, every enemy, every snare, every danger which beset your path. It gives all the information, all the warning, all the caution, and all the encouragement which you need. It tells you, more perfectly than any other book, all that you have to fear, and all that you have to hope for. There is not a form of error or of corruption against which it does not put you on your guard; not an excellence or a duty which it does not direct you to cultivate and attain. No one ever made this holy book the guide of his life, without walking wisely, safely and happily; without finding the truest enjoyment in this world, and eternal blessedness in the world to come.

But this is not all. The Bible is not only the word of life. It is not only that wonderful book which was sent from heaven to show us the way of salvation: it not only contains the glad tidings of pardon, and peace, and love, and glory to a lost world; and is, of course, worthy of the most grateful reception, and the most diligent and reverential study; but there is, besides, something in it which it becomes every aspirant to literary reputa

tion duly to appreciate. It is full of the noblest specimens of literary beauty, and of tender, pathetic eloquence, that the world ever saw. There is something in it better adapted to touch the finest and best cords of human sensibility, to reach and sway the heart, than the most laboured products of rhetoric that the skill of man ever formed. I have known more than one case in which secular orators have drawn from the figures and the language of the Bible their mightiest weapons, both for convincing the judgment, and captivating the hearts of their hearers; and am persuaded that he who does not study his Bible, as well as his secular authorities, in preparing for public life, neglects a very important part of his education.

And in reading the Bible, I hope you will not forget that it is to be read with feelings and in a manner very different from those with which you peruse all other books. If it be indeed inspired of God, and given to teach us the way of salvation, it surely ought to be read with serious and fixed attention; with unwearied diligence;-with deep humility; with candid application to your own heart and conscience; and with devout application to the throne of grace, that you may be enabled to read it with understanding and with profit. Happy, thrice happy, is that youth who learns to go to the Bible for all his sentiments, principles, and rules of action; who searches its sacred pages daily

for direction in his pursuits, for guidance in his perplexities, for comfort in his sorrows, and for help in every time of need. Such have the best pledge of temporal enjoyment, and of eternal blessedness.

Another important means by which you ought to seek the favour and image of God is prayer. Need I dwell either on the duty or the reasonableness of this exercise? If we are entirely dependent on God for every temporal and spiritual blessing, then it is surely reasonable that we should acknowledge our dependence, and apply to him with humility and earnestness for his aid. If his favour is life, and his blessings the best riches, it is evident that we ought to supplicate them with importunity and perseverance. If we are sinners, unworthy of the Divine favour, we ought to humble ourselves at his footstool, and make confession of our sins with penitence, and a sincere desire to do better in time to come. If he has revealed a plan of mercy and grace to us, of which he invites and commands us to avail ourselves, then every principle of selfinterest concurs with reason in urging us to seek with earnestness a participation in that mercy. And if our Maker and Redeemer has, in so many words commanded us "by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, to make known our requests to God," who can question, for a moment, the reasonableness of a compliance with that command?

I am afraid that many a youth who has been

taught from his childhood to fear God, would be ashamed to be seen bowing his knees in secret before that Being whom his parents supremely love and venerate, and by whom he has been himself protected and sustained ever since he was born. Can it be necessary for me to demonstrate to you that this is a shame as foolish, as infatuated as it is criminal? Ashamed of acknowledging your Maker, your Sovereign, your constant Benefactor, who alone can make you happy, either in this world, or the world to come! O what insanity is here! It is to be ashamed of your true glory. A shame the folly and infatuation of which can be equalled only by that which is manifested by the old as well as the young, viz. "glorying in their shame."

Yon will have no good reason to expect the blessing of God on your persons, your studies, or any of your interests, without feeling your need of that blessing, and importunately asking for it. Let no day, then, pass without at least two seasons of prayer. When you rise in the morning, implore the guidance and benediction of heaven on all the employments and privileges of the day; for you know not what may occur to disturb your peace, or endanger your character or improvement. And when you retire to rest at night, ask for the protection and blessing of Him who neither slumbereth nor sleepeth, over the repose of the night-watches. Nor are these the only proper objects of petition.

Pray for your instructors; that they may be aided in their official work, and rewarded for all their labours of love. Pray for your fellow students; that they may be imbued with a love of knowledge, with a love of order, and with all those fraternal and honourable dispositions which may render their society profitable and happy. Rely on it, the more you pray, the happier you will be. The more you make all around you the objects of your benevolent petitions, the more pleasant and profitable will be all your intercourse with them.

As another important means of grace, make a point of attending on the public worship of God, on every Lord's day, as well as on every other occasion when you have an opportunity so to do. Let no pretext for absenting yourselves from the house of God ever be admitted. On the one hand, those who habitually neglect it, manifest a spirit of disregard to the divine authority, which indicates a spirit most unpromising in regard to their spiritual interest. While, on the other hand, those who make conscience of being present with the people of God whenever they are assembled, manifest a reverence for his name and his worship which we have reason to hope will issue in their happy preparation for his kingdom.

Let me further recommend that you be in the habit of statedly setting apart seasons of retirement, meditation, and self examination, in regard