and Saviour Jesus Christ? Your age is pecut iarly favorable for learning, and we take it for granted, that before you read this address, you have been initiated into the doctrines of salvation. Those catechetical compends by which " you have been indoctrinated, may be to you of great and lasting advantages. That they may be so, however, you must be apprized that you have not done with your primers when you can recite them accurately by memory when asked, or even ' when you can ask and answer them in the solitude and solemnity of sable night. If you would · derive from them real good, you must meditate much upon their import, refer them for proof to the unerring standard of God's holy word, and strive by grace to live according to their pious maxims. This will be a proper and profitable exercise in various ways and for several reasons. 1st. It will assist you in understanding both the scriptures and the catechisms. 2dly. It will teach you to look for precise and definite ideas and doctrines in the holy scriptures. The scrip- tures are read, and catechisms learned to very little purpose, when no attention is paid to signification. It is a killing thing to mind nothing but the letter. You must, therefore, observe the direction of the Saviour" Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me." You must study to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom. 3dly. By pursuing this course, you

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will be referring to the proper source for relig

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-ious knowledge, you will be appealing to the supreme standard of faith and ultimate tribunal of doctrine." To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Some may probably object, that, seeing the scriptures must be the last umpire, why not study them first and . alone? This objection, however specious, is by no means solid. It is contrary to the method found expedient in the prosecution of all literary and scientific attainments. Every person knows the propriety of grammatical institutes and scientific syllabi, or outlines and brief compends of > the various branches of study. Would not the man be thought either in jest or a fool who would say all philosophy must be founded upon observation actually made upon nature, therefore all books of philosophy are unnecessary and pernicious? The indolent slugglard and idle truant might approve of the method, but we are sure the true spirit of philosophy would testify against it. The diligent student will avail himself of the aid to be derived from the experience and observation of others, while he will also be forward and industrious to test other men's systems by his own actual experiments, and thus, while the idle saunterer, following the path of the savage, will make no improvement, the industrious student will obtain a rich feast from every scene of mature which passes under his intelligent review, and, while he compares the natural original with

the artificial portrait of scientific system, will, doubtless, acknowledge the superlative grandeur and inimitable excellency of the former, will, at the same time, with modesty, and perfect consistency, admit the utility of the latter. The application of all this to the case in hand is easy. The Jewish scripturian-the Papist traditionist -the skeptical infidel-the wrangling bigot-the superstitous formalist-the enthusiastic fanatic, all steer courses, not more different from one another, than the true Christian. He will not be so silly as to suppose that much advantage is to be obtained by counting the words and letter of the inspired books, nor will he calculate much upon the phylacteries, talismans and amulets of scripture, thus profaned by the veiled Hebrew. Neither will he spend time in counting the feuds which recal to the mind of the catholic the name and fantastic deeds of canonized heroes, and tu telary saints, and imaginary mediators. He will not implicitly believe the ipse dixits of Popes, cardinals, and doctors; neither will he for pride or interest, subscribe and maintain the creeds of councils, nor will he think himself certainly correct, when regulated in his conduct by the canons of hierarchial clergy. No; while he may transiently glance at all this gilded trumpery, he will, with peculiar pleasure, and profit too, meditate upon God's law, and study the deep thoughts of the Spirit of Truth. He will, at the same time, avail himself of all the helps which the pious study and faithful testimony of ancient witnesses

afford. He will distinguish between the scriptures, which are God's testimony to men, and the confessions of the faithful, which are the testimony of the Church for the cause of a redeaming God, exhibited before the eyes of a blind and rebellious world. But I must hasten to a fourth reason for, and use of, proving your rudiments of early instruction by the word of God. It is evident if your word be correct it will have many opponents. If it has not, it cannot be either scriptural or true. This is the time, in which men heap to themselves teachers having itching ears. Many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of which the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. It is quite natural to suppose that those teachers, who know not what themselves say, nor whereof they affirm, who have no system, teach no doctrine, should wish to have auditors of a corresponding character. Such teachers as make once or twice crying to be conversion, and going under the water to be obedience to the gospel, certainly act consistently and prudently, when they use all their influence to expel from the christian world those forms of sound words, which are calculated to assist the young members of the church to understand the oracles of God. Adults in years and infants in knowledge are their best game, because they are most easily affected and most readily persuaded of a system which appears best with candle light. If then, against the assaults of such cavillers as want no other reason to oppose a doctrine, than

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that it is contained in a catechism or confession of faith, you would be successful, you must connect two precepts of Paul to his son Timothy. In the first chapter, 18th verse, he exhorts him"Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus," and in the third chapter of the same second epistle, 14th and 15th verses, he shews how this against seducers may be done"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assurred of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and, that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Nearly related to this duty of intelligent and constant maintenance of the principles of truth, in which you have been taught, and intimately connected with its success will be a practical regard to the duties, which their doctrines and the precepts of your parents inculcate. Religion is not a mere theory; the gospel of Christ must be obeyed. If this fact and principle be not observed, the consequences will be doleful as the neglect is baneful. We are very apt to reckon our conduc reasonable, and always disposed to stand up in its defence. If, therefore, it should unfortunotely happen, my dear young friends, that your conduct and your creed should be found at variance, it will be at least matter of fear and doubt with those who wish your everlasting welfare, that you will renounce your orthodox faith rather than