never come; that which is put off to-day, will be put off to-morrow; the convenient season will not arrive; day after day will strengthen us in our habits and our sins, and throw difficulties in the way of our amendment. Life may not be vouchsafed for this: who is there among us who may count his days or his hours? Bold in the lightness and gaiety of his heart, the young will perhaps look on this warning with indifference, or turn it off with ridicule; but even the most thoughtless must sometimes think, and when he does think, must know that there is the same fearful account to be rendered by young and old, and that neither youth, strength, or vivacity of spirits will protect us from that common doom that in an hour we look not for it will arrest us. I will not now enter into the reasons which induce this procrastination, this putting off to a more convenient season the performance of our duty; but to a strict investigation of this and every other branch of the subject, I would direct your attention. I shall close

K

this discourse with a few brief remarks on the nature of religion generally and its effect upon the heart, that I may not leave a false impression by what I have already said on the minds of those whom I am most anxious to draw over to its side. From mistaken notions of the real nature of religion, we are apt to give it a cheerless and gloomy aspect, and the young and thoughtless are too often induced to consider it as a subject more peculiarly, and in some instances exclusively, appropriate to the attention of the aged. By these views many have been deterred from a timely attention to the one thing needful in life, and gone on to the end of their career almost, but never altogether Christians. How mistaken, however, are these views of our religion! It is gloomy only to those who neglect it. To the sincere and pious Christian, be he of what age or station he may, it speaks peace and cheerfulness it will be seen, in the happiness of his disposition, to all around him; it will accompany him in all the innocent enjoy

ments and recreations of life; it will soothe him amidst all his trials and troubles, and remove from his brow that load of care and anxiety which marks and oppresses the worldly-minded. It is indeed a sweet savour of life unto life, inviting us to happiness, and warning us against the deceitful ways by which we may endeavour to attain it. Let me then entreat my younger brethren, not to look on it as gloomy and austere, except when it is neglected, but as the only real source of happiness and peace of mind; that accepting their Saviour's gracious invitation to come unto him, and to serve their Creator in the days of their youth, they may not put off such considerations to a more convenient season, but resolve henceforth to become, not almost, but altogether Christians.

THE END.

J. Rickerby, Printer, Sherbourn Lane.