ments and capabilities which you possess. He has greatly elevated you in the vast scale of being, and given you dominion over all other forms of earthly existence. He has bestowed upon you numerous advantages in political and religious respects--permitting you to exist under the sway of just and equitable laws, which insure you "liberty and the pursuit of happiness," and enable you to worship God as your conscience dictates. In the land where your lot has been cast, every thing that can conduce to human improvement, elevation and happiness, is profusely scattered round. These blessings have come from the goodness of your Creator. Unsolicited and unmerited on your part, has he thus lavished the highest of earthly favors upon you; and you are honestly indebted to him for them. The Deity, therefore, has lasting claims upon you, to discharge this debt, as far as your capabilities and opportunities will allow. In return for his gifts, he claims of you a due cultivation and exercise of your intellectual and moral faculties. He bestowed them upon you, not to lie dormant, but for activity and improvement: and that activity and improvement he claims. He has claims upon your gratitude, your veneration and love, for his continued kindness and his tender mercies. He has, also, claims upon your obedience. His laws are instituted and exercised over the children of men, not for their injury, but for their benefit--to lead them into paths of peace and happiness; and he has therefore every just right to demand the obedience of mankind.—These claims of the Creator, exist properly against you. They grow out of the nature of the benefits conferred upon you. And such is the character and undoubted value of the favors granted, that he is justified in urging and enforcing these claims, if we do not fulfil them voluntarily. And what renders these claims still more worthy your consideration, and portrays the goodness of God in a light surpassingly lovely, is, that in complying with them, you are only doing that which improves your character, enlarges your mind, and ministers greatly to your true enjoyments. Let your minds become impressed with the importance of the claims which I have thus briefly brought to your notice. Reflect upon their character, the grounds upon which they rest, and the influence which their fulfilment will exercise upon your own happiness, and the welfare of your fellow-beings. And let the spirit arise within you, to meet their demands with that energy and fidelity which is the best guaranty of success. CHAPTER III. FORMATION OF CHARACTER. That a good character is among the most valuable earthly blessings, is a position which few will controvert. To a young man, it is the foundation--and the only sure one—upon which he can rationally base any expectation of future respectability and prosperity. Youth should not believe they can arise to eminence in any calling or profession—in any situation or condition in life—without possessing a good character. Whoever cherishes such anticipation, is most certainly doomed to bitter disappointment. As reasonably can they expect to "gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles." The young man who is studiously intent on establishing a good character, may be considered rich, although destitute of property. He is rich in the esteem of community—rich in the confidence and trust reposed in him, by all to whom he is known--rich in possessing the good wishes, and in receiving the kind offices of those around him—rich in the assistance cheerfully granted him in the hour of misfortune, the most readily by those who best know his worth. But without a good character, and without a desire to obtain one, a young man is in reality, poor, though possessing the wealth of the Indies. He is poor in every consideration wherein the other is rich. Poor in the respect, trust and confidence of others—poor. in every thing that can render life happy or desirable, to an intellectual being. The consciousness which he carries about with him, that he is despised by the virtuous and respectable, is a sting that embitters his days. In meditating plans for his future prosperity, the young man should consider a good character, as the first important acquisition to be secured. If he makes a mistake here—if he views character as an indifferent consideration—a matter of no consequence, worthy of no thought or exertion— his condition is extremely precarious. He has turned his face toward the downward path of dishonor and wretchedness—he has already taken one long step therein—and unless he speedily changes his course, and rectifies this primary error, his career will be one of disappointment and ruin. Reflect, for one moment. Suppose a young man is known to be a spendthrift—known to be ignorant, indolent, dishonest, intemperate and vicious—what are his prospects? Who will repose confidence in him, or trust him, or encourage him, or stand by him in the hour of mis fortune, or aid him in times of trial? On the other hand, let it be known that a youth is well informed, industrious, economical, strictly temperate and moral, and the whole community are his friends all are ready to employ him, and assist him to rise to circumstances of competency.—Between these two conditions, every wise young man will rightly choose the latter in preference to the former; and must, therefore, perceive the immense importance of a good character, and the great necessity of striving to obtain it. Fair reader, need I speak of the vast importance of a good character to the young lady? Need I say, it is her all--that with it, she is every thing, and without it, nothing—yea, worse than nothing! These propositions are so plain, that, it would seem, all young ladies must be aware of their propriety! If not, one moment's reflection must satisfy them of their truth. Let it be known that a young lady is idle and uninformed—that she is fond of gossiping and "spinning street yarn," rather than of laudably engaging in some industrious occupation—that she is better acquainted with the heroes and heroines of silly novels, than the rules of housewifery and domestic economy—that her virtue, honesty and veracity are suspected—and who does not perceive that, with such a name, her prospects of forming an eligible connexion, and of prospering in life, are entirely destroyed? But one whose charac |