XI. By thefe unhappy exceffes of irregular SERM. pleafure in youth, how many amiable difpositions are corrupted or destroyed! How many rifing capacities and powers are fuppreffed! How many flattering hopes of parents and friends, are totally extinguifhed! Who but muft drop a tear over human nature, when he beholds that morning which arofe so bright, overcast with fuch untimely darkness; that good humour which once captivated all hearts, that vivacity which sparkled in every company, thofe abilities which were fitted for adorning the highest ftation, all facrificed at the shrine of low fenfuality; and one who was formed for running the fair career of life in the midft of public esteem, cut off by his vices at the beginning of his course, or funk, for the whole of it, into infignificancy and contempt!-These, O finful pleasure! are thy trophies. It is thus that, co-operating with the foe of God and man, thou degradeft human honour, and blasteft the opening profpects of human felicity. VI. VI. DILIGENCE, induftry, and proper improvement of time, are material duties of the young. To no purpose are they endowed with the best abilities, if they want activity for exerting them. Unavailing, in this case, will be every direction that can be given them, either for their temporal or spiritual welfare. In youth the habits of industry are most easily acquired. In youth the incentives to it are strongest, from ambition and from duty, from emulation and hope, from all the profpects which the beginning of life affords. If, dead to thefe calls, you already languish in slothful inaction, what will be able to quicken the more fluggish current of advancing years? Industry is not only the inftrument of improvement, but the foundation of pleasure. Nothing is fo oppofite to the true enjoyment of life, as the relaxed and feeble ftate of an indolent mind. He who is a ftranger to induftry, may poffefs, but he cannot enjoy. For it is labour XI. labour only which gives the relish to plea- SERM. fure. It is the appointed vehicle of every good to man. It is the indispensa ble condition of our poffeffing a found mind in a found body. Sloth is fo inconfiftent with both, that it is hard to determine whether it be a greater foe to virtue, or to health and happiness. Inactive as it is in itself, its effects are fatally powerful. Though it appear a flowly flowing stream, yet it undermines all that is ftable and flourishing. It not only faps the foundation of every virtue, but pours upon you a deluge of crimes and evils. It is like water which firft putrifies by stagnation; and then fends up noxious vapours, and fills the atmosphere with death. Fly, therefore, from idlenefs as the certain parent both of guilt and of ruin. And under idlenefs I include, not mere inaction only, but all that circle of trifling occupations in which too many faunter away their youth; perpetually engaged in frivolous fociety, or public amufe SERM. amusements, in the labour of drefs, or XI. } the oftentation of their perfons.-Is this the foundation which you lay for future, usefulness and esteem? By fuch accomplishments, do you hope to recommend yourselves to the thinking part of the world, and to answer the expectations of your friends, and your country? Amusements, youth requires. It were vain, it were cruel to prohibit them. But though allowable as the relaxation, they are most culpable as the business of the young. For they then become the gulph of time, and the poifon of the mind. They foment bad paffions. They weaken the manly powers. They fink the native vigour of youth, into contemptible effeminacy. Redeeming your time from fuch dangerous waste, seek to fill it with employments which you may review with fatisfaction. The acquifition of knowledge is one of the most honourable occupations of youth. The defire of it diseovers a liberal mind, and is connected with XI. many accomplishments, and many virtues. SERM. But though your train of life should not lead you to study, the course of education always furnishes proper employments to a well disposed mind. Whatever you purfue, be emulous to excel. Generous ambition, and fenfibility to praife, are, efpecially at your age, among the marks of virtue. Think not that any affluence of fortune, or any elevation of rank, exempts you from the duties of application and industry. Induftry is the law of our being; it is the demand of Nature, of Reason, and of God. Remember always that the years which now pafs over your heads, leave permanent memorials behind them. From your thoughtless minds they may escape; but they remain in the remembrance of God. They form an important part of the register of your life. They will hereafter bear teftimony either for or against you, at that day, when, for all your actions, but particularly for the employments of youth, you must give an account to God. |