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ways associated in the mind, with ideas of advantage, happiness, or honor. Opposite associations will, by obvious consequence, leave on the mind a different result. The indolence of the sluggard is embittered by images of disgrace and penury, whenever he anticipates the months of autumn and winter. Whereas the industrious cultivator of the soil, finds his labors in the spring, not only tolerable, but pleasant, while he connects them with the sight of flourishing fields and a rich harvest. With assiduous and persevering application you are to connect ideas of duty, usefulness, influence, and character. With sloth and a consequent want of knowledge, you are to associate ideas precisely the reverse of these. Nor is this a fanciful association. It is unquestionably founded in nature. It is morally right to culti vate our talents, whether greater or less: and it is morally wrong to neglect them. It is, likewise, an undeniable fact, that application brings knowledge, and that knowledge is connected with usefulness, power, and reputation.

I would by no means encourage you to form or cherish extravagant expectations. Still I would not only encourage, but urge you to aim at an elevated rank; to accomplish as much, ast your powers, your health, and your advantages will permit ;→→→→ to effect whatever may be accomplished by force of industry and application.

Consider, that there is no day, which does not bear some relation to another. Your assiduity to-day renders it more easy to avoid indolence to-morrow. By repeated efforts, agreeably to what has already been observed, habits are formed and established. In addition to this, whatever knowledge you acquire affords you the means of obtaining more. The truth of this remark will be readily perceived by every person, who is, in any measure acquainted with the elements of geometry. If the demonstrations of to-day are thoroughly understood and well established in the mind, those of to-morrow will be entered upon with confidence, and acquired with comparative facility. The remark is applicable not more to mathematics, than to history, metaphysics, or philosophy.

As a further motive to a sedulous use of your time I would remark, that there has probably never been a period, since the first settlement of our country, when literature and a literary reputation were more highly appreciated, than they are at pres

ent.

As yet I have merely alluded to those obligations, to use time with economy, which are of more strength and solemnity than all others. We are bound to cultivate such economy, because we are the creatures of God; because we have duties to perform; and because as living agents, we are immortal. There is not only a connexion between youth and manhood; but also between our present characters and our future condition. There is not only a connexion between those moral and intellectual habits, which are formed at one period of life, and the influence, wealth, and reputation enjoyed at another; but there is a proportion still more exact between the whole amount of moral feeling and action exhibited on earth, and the eternal rewards of a judgment to come. We are emphatically chargeable with the guilt of wasting life, while our attention is not occupied with that immense object, in regard to which life is bestowed. The duration of our being is not suspended on our choice. To annihilate ourselves is no more within our power, than it was to create ourselves. Existence may be wasted, but it cannot be extinguished. We may be regardless of time, but so is not our CreaOur traits of character for every day, are fairly delineated by the divine hand. The colors will never fade. The marks will be distinctly legible at that period, when the "judgment shall set, and the books shall be opened, and the dead shall be judged out of the things written in the books." On these immortal pages, some new lines are impressed every day. "Nulla dies sine linea." Some new development of character is recorded for the inspection of angels and men-something which shall add gems to the crown of glory, or weight to the chains of darkness!

tor.

I close in the words of Dr. Young:

"Thou think'st it folly to be wise too soon.
Youth is not rich in time; it may be poor;
Part with it as with money, sparingly, Pay
No moment, but in purchase of its worth;
And what its worth, ask death-beds, they can tell.
Part with it as with life, reluctant, big

With holy hope of nobler time to come

Time higher armed, still nearer the great mark

Of men and angels-virtue more divine."

ADDRESSES.

VOL. II.

49

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