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from his own self-moving compassion, he sent his son to recover and save us. : We are redeemed not by corruptible things such as silver and gold, but by the precious blood of Christ, who his own self bare our sins on the cross, and died for us, that henceforward we should live unto him.' In the view of these things must not every heart be convinced of its obligations to serve God, and melt in contrition for having neglected his service so long? Must not every bosom wax warm with the emotions of love and gratitude? Being bought with a price, must we not feel that we are not our own, that we owe ourselves and all the service in our power, to Him who has taken such measures for our happiness, and at an expense which angles cannot compute, has ransomed us from eternal ruin? Must not the heart of that man be exceedingly depraved, who feels not the constraining influence of redeeming love and grace, who still declines the service of God? Whom shall we serve, if we refuse to serve him? Into what certain and inevitable ruin are they hastening, who give themselves up to the service of their lusts, of sin and of the world? But what pleasure, honor and happiness may be expected from sincerity in the service of God! In keeping his commandments there is great reward. Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. Will you not then, my friends, especially those of you who are heads of families, come to a resolution to serve God? May I not hope that on fixed, and permanent principles, your hearts are now deliberately, forming the noble purpose, and in an humble dependence on divine grace, resolving that henceforth you will serve the Lord in sincerity and truth? Let me then,

In the next place, recommend the open and explicit profession of this your good resolution. So did Joshua in the text; and so, at his persuasion,

did the assembled tribes of Israel. Nor was it a new thing for them thus publicly to enter into covenant with God and bind themselves by the solemnity of an oath, to fidelity in his service. Their history furnishes many instances of similar transactions. From the New Testament also we have abundant evidence that it is the will of God, that all as they arrive to years of discretion, should openly profess their faith in Christ and devote themselves to his service. No small stress seems to be laid upon this by our Sa.. viour when he says, 'whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven. And whosoever shall be ashamed. of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he shall come in his own and his Father's glory.' As, with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; so with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.' This confession was requir. ed by the apostles, of all who offered to join in the communion of the first christians. In opposition to such plain texts of Scripture and to the usage of the people of God in all ages, both under the law and under the gospel, is it not strange that so many among us can content themselves in the neglect of this duty, even after they have children about them, before whom a better example ought to be set?

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Indeed, if young people were truly wise, and had a just sense of things, they would certainly give up themselves to God, and recognize their obligation to him who made, and to him who redeemed them, prior to their entering into engagements to one another. Before they think of changing their condi tion and encumbering their minds with family cares and anxieties, they are called by the voice both of reason and revelation to think seriously of their eternal concerns, and to come to a fixed resolution about them, by explicitly taking Christ's yoke upon them and bind. ing themselves to the observance of all his institutions. By so doing, they would launch forth into the world, and

begin the voyage of life, furnished with a compass and, rudder. Mariners exposed to the winds and waves, destitute of these requisite instruments, are in a situation less perilous than those young persons, who begin the world without any fixed principles of religion. My young friends, whatever your temporal success may be, yet, if in the end, you shall fail of reaching the haven of everlasting rest, you had better never have been born. Let me entreat you to fix your thoughts upon this great and awful concern; and whatever else you may neglect, neglect not, O neglect not, the one thing needful! Hasten, hasten your choice of that good part which shall not be taken from you.' Having made your choice, bind, yourselves to adhere to it, by openly, avowing it in the face of the world. By thus becoming and profes sing yourselves the servants of God, you will lay a proper foundation for exerting your influence over others. When When you shall have families, you will be, qualified to preside over them with dignity and comfort to yourselves, and with advantage to them. The influence of the resolution which you have formed for yourselves, will be extended to those, whom providence may place under your care, and afford a degree of security that they also will serve the Lord,

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On your becoming parents, it will be your first care to give up your children to God, not only by acts of devotion in private, but by having them publicly baptized into the name of Christ, and thereby dedicated to his service. That this is one of the first duties of parents to their offspring, has been believed by-the generality of Christians ever since the apostolic age.

As we know that of old, God required the seal of his covenant to be applied to the children of his professing people; that the great Author of the gospel dispensation has been so far from excluding them from this new covenant, that he has explicitly numbered them among his visible subjects; that his

apostles have dignified them with the titles of saints and disciples; and actually baptized them on the pro fessed faith of their parents-to me it is wonderful, how any can doubt whether it be the will of God that parents should in this way, dedicate their children to him and his service. It is with great concern, my brethren, that I see such numbers among us living in the neglect of this duty. It is not indeed, neglected by those of you who have professed your resolution to serve God. But, are all the others unresolved upon this subject. Are you still wavering and undetermined whether to serve God or not? Are you still halting between two opinions? Alas for you! Has not the matter been under consideration long enough already? If you are not yet convinced of the proprie. ty, reasonableness and advantage of serving God, what further light or new arguments can you expect? When will you come to a conclusion? If you can feel easy and unconcerned in your present situation, and while you live on in the neglect of Christ's institutions, neither devoting yourselves nor your children to his service, you must be left to abide the consequences of manifest disobedience to the divine authority. I turn to professors.

My brethren, if you are sincere in your profession, you will not content yourselves with having dedicated your children to the service of God; it will be your next care to instruct them how to serve him, teaching them the principles of that religion into which they have been initiated. To train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,' is the express injunction of the gospel, and has been the endeavor of religious parents in all ages. To the faithfulness of Abraham in discharging this duty, God himself testifies when he says, I know Abraham, that he will command his children and household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment.' (His example cannot but be imitated by

all who are of his character. If you believe that there is a God, that his favor is life and the source of all happiness to his creatures; will you not instruct your children in this most interesting truth, teaching them betimes the good knowledge of their Creator? If you have a just sense of the depravity and corruption of human nature, and of the need we all stand in of being cleansed by sanctifying grace; will you not endeavor to awaken in the consciences of your children a conviction of the necessity and importance of this great moral change, and travail in pain for them till Christ be formed in them, and they are born again of his spirit? If your own hope of salvation be founded on Christ, will you not hold him up to their view in all those characters and offices which he sustains as Mediator, and earnestly recommend him to their esteem, their love, their trust and obedience? If you have yourselves experienced the ways of wisdom to be ways of pleasantness,' will you not endeavor to lead your children into these delightful paths, and earnestly wish and pray, that they may largely participate of the noble and refined pleasures of true religion? In fine, if you believe that there is an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled and which fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for all the faithful servants of God; with what anxious concern will you endeavor that your own families may be of the happy number, and be-. long to the family of heaven! With what diligence will you instruct them in the service of the Most High, in all the various branches of their duty, teach ing them how to live and walk so as to please God!

In doing this, much prudence will be requisite. Your instructions should be adapted to the age and capacities of your children. It should be conveyed in easy and familiar language, and illustrated by apt and striking representations. It should be often repeated, drop as the rain, and distill as the dew on their tender minds. "These words,' says Moses to