care; he, on his part, stipulates obedience to the laws, docility, application, and correct habits. When "every transgression and disobedience receives a just recompense of reward," there is no cause of complaint-nothing takes place but what, at the time of entering into the agreement, it was understood should take place. The offender receives the punishment specified by those regulations to which he consented, and under which he placed himself. When determined to commit a crime, he does it in the distinct view of its consequences. Not so, should facts render it uncertain whether strict obedience will be uniformly required. In this case, there would be a language in the administration indefinite, to be sure, but certainly different from that of the written code; and he who was disposed to transgress would consider it problematical, whether, in case of detection, he should suffer, or be acquitted-whether he should be judged by the law, or by some unknown modification of it. It appears then, not only that the steady enforcement of established laws is necessary to preserve subordination, and secure authority from contempt, but that it is likewise most fair and honorable as it respects the party stipulating obedience.

That the morals of students ought to be a matter of primary attention does not admit of a moment's debate. If we be the subjects of moral government, and responsible to that Lawgiver and Judge, who is able to save or destroy, literary acquirements, however splendid, but poorly compensate for increasing degeneracy of heart; and the case is still worse, if in proportion as the life becomes profligate, there be a contemptuous neglect of literary pursuits. No one can reflect, without mortification and extreme regret, that any serious parent should ever withhold from his sons the benefits of a public education, from a well grounded fear that their minds would be corrupted. This reflection is the more distressing, if we consider that the churches of our land are expecting, and have a right to expect from colleges their future supply.

Figure to yourselves a youth of promising, perhaps of brilliant talents, of engaging deportment, and strict morality, leaving

his father's house for a four years' residence at some seat of learning. Who can wonder at those high hopes, which are mingled with parental prayers and benedictions? Who can wonder that a father's, or a mother's fondness sometimes anticipates the future usefulness and elevation of their son ? Suppose this amiable lad unhappily becomes acquainted with individuals of dissipated life. By intimacy, and perhaps by flattery on their part, he contracts a fondness for their society and their vices. Adopting himself, what he is pleased with in them, he attends on college exercises without constancy or pleasure, and after having been the instrument of diffusing among others the same corruption which he has received, returns to his anxious parents, intemperate, profane, debauched, and a despiser of God!

I well know it is not within human power to change the heart. Instructors can, by no efforts, communicate to their pupils a conformity to the divine image. But surely there are restraints which may be imposed-there are means which may be used, and which are commonly in a greater or smaller degree, accompanied with success; and I tremble under the solemn conviction, of the high accountability of that office on which I am entering -a conviction, that the usefulness of the students in time, and their character through eternity, may be affected, greatly affected, by the manner in which the executive officers of college discharge their duty.

To remark that there is an important connexion between good government and good morals, would be asserting what no one disbelieves. He therefore, who is hostile to wholesome restraint, in literary or civil communities, commences a warfare with moral obligation. Now if such be the importance of government, surely they who oppose it are worthy of dishonor. But, in order to their being distinguished with merited dishonor, they must be known; and in order to this, they who are acquainted with their offences must, when called on to give testimony, come forward with honorable frankness-with unshrinking integrity. There is nothing more inconsistent, not only with the gospel of Christ, but with a just sense of honor, with

the hardihood and spirit of a m n, than to interpose between the law and the culprit, a wilful violation of truth. Because my neighbor is so unhappily deserted of God, as to raise a seditious hand against the laws of the State, and would thereby bring ruin on myself, in common with every citizen, am I so strongly bound to him, that I should sell my conscience and hazard my soul to secure him from punishment? Must I sacrifice common honesty-must I meanly evade inquiries, because forsooth, himself and accomplices will be offended at my plain declaration of truth?

It would be immaterial whether no laws existed, or whether all crimes were sure to be concealed. In either case, the transgressor would be exempted from fear, and from all restraint. Fear and restraint will, therefore, be diminished in proportion to the probability of concealment, and this probability will depend on the disposition which generally prevails, either to take side with the law, or with those who rise to oppose it.

It is a circumstance extremely inauspicious, when students conceive the idea, that their interest and that of their instructors can be different and hostile-or that any infraction of college laws is so much clear gain acquired to themselves. The fact is, that whatever tends to the honor and advantage of the one, tends equally to the honor and advantage of the other. It is for the honor of government that the student should acquire knowledge, and be adorned with every moral and amiable accomplishment. Can the reputation, the utility, the best interest of the latter be promoted in a different manner? Sedition is not the interest of the student, nor is oppression the interest of government.

Gentlemen, shall I take the liberty of introducing a few remarks relating to the studies pursued in this college? It is justly considered as part of a liberal education to obtain some knowledge of antiquity, heathen mythology, and heathen ethics. That volume, which we denominate "Sacred Scripture" affords us information, not only as to a period, concerning which we obtain light from no other source; but leads us back to the creation

itself, showing the time when this event took place, its progress, and the circumstances by which it was attended. Besides the ancient mythology of heathen nations, it speaks of a different system of divinity, commencing with creation, and descending down through the space of four thousand years. It describes an extraordinary people-an extraordinary system of polity and morals. In addition to this it gives us a very minute narration of a personage claiming to be the Son of God; whose life and doctrines were confessedly different from those of any other person on earth. Now, should we entirely leave out the matter of inspiration and divine authority, it would still be true, that there is not a volume on earth whose claims on the attention of literary men are so strongly supported. But when we consider the Scriptures as given by inspiration of God; unfolding a system of grace to a world under condemnation; presenting to our apostate species the only conditions of eternal safety; a knowledge of these writings has a value which language cannot describe.

I would respectfully suggest, whether some very general system containing the outlines of Christian theology, might not with advantage be considered as a necessary part of collegiate studies; and whether his education should not be considered as deficient, who has no particular knowledge of the facts and doctrines described in the sacred volume.

Young Gentlemen, Students of this College

By resorting to this place, you publicly declare that literature is your immediate object. In giving you an opportunity to be liberally educated, God has bestowed on you a privilege of high value. You are the objects of public attention, you are the objects of parental anxiety. It is in your power to do much honor to this rising institution—it is in your power to disgrace it. It is in your power to pierce with grief your affectionate parents, or to cause their hearts to sing for joy. Between these alternatives you cannot hesitate.

Many students have most unhappily received the idea, that

great genius and close application should never unite; and that dissipation and indolence are strong marks of superior intellect. This opinion is the legitimate offspring of depravity and dulness. If a youth possesses genius, should it be cultivated or neglected? Should he be learned or ignorant? If learned, in what way his literature to be acquired? Will it come to him without his seeking? Does idleness give to the mind a certain susceptibility of knowledge? Will an acquaintance with antiquity-with the works of taste-with the language and government of former ages descend and rest upon him, while his mind is vacant of thought, or deeply engaged in profligacy and dissipation? If he acquire knowledge with ease, he is doubly criminal for neglecting the pursuit. If he do well with little study, what brilliant success would crown intense application !

It may not, indeed, be difficult for a person whose fondness for an irregular life is combined with vanity, to mistake his loose habits for marks of intellectual merit. But his acquaintance will be more incredulous-they will deny his pretensions, till he bring forward some stronger proof-they will demand that his high talents, if such he possess, be cultivated, and applied to some useful purpose.

But though many motives may with propriety be exhibited in favor of studious diligence and correct morals, nothing can ensure these but the commanding voice of religion. That not only shows the creature's obligation to devote his talents to the Being from whom he received them, but it awes the mind, restrains a wandering imagination, and concentrates the intellectual powers-thus preparing the soul for the most successful application to any subject.

I entreat that you would, by no means, imbibe the opinion, that persons of different ages and variously stationed in life are to be regulated by different systems of morality. Our obligations to the Supreme Being commence with our moral agency, and continue forever. The divine law is not repealed, nor is it suspended during the season of youth. There are no persons on earth more certainly bound to love their Creator, and to live VOL. II.

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