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Article AN ADDRESS TO YOU TH. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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An Address To You Th.
pionly flattering ; the livel y spirits of the young gild every prospect , and pleasure seems to put forth blossoms on every side . Impelled by desire , they rush forward with inconsiderate ardour : prompt to decide , averse to iniquity or hesitation ; credulous , because untaught by experience ; rash , because unacquainted " with danger ; headstrong , because unsubdued by disappointment ; hence arise the perils against which the design of the present address is to warn them .
Idaving then advanced beyond childhood , so as to look forward to such a plan of life as your circumstances have suggested , and your friends proposed , you cannot hesitate to acknowledge , that , in order , to adopt . it with any prospect of success , some previous discipline is necessary . Be assured that whatever is to be your profession , no education is more necessary to insure success , than the acquirement of virtuous dispositions
and habits . Bad as the world is , respect is always paid to virtue . Whether science , business , or public life be your aim , virtue still enters for a principal ingredient into all those departments of soeiety . It is connected with eminence in every liberal art ; with reputation in every branch of fair , and useful business ; and with distinction in every public station . The vigour which it imparts to the mindthe weiht which it adds to
, g the character , the generous sentiments which it breathes , the fortitude which it inspires , the diligence which it quickens , are the sure foundations of all that is great and valuable in life , Llaving thus shewn the importance of beginning early to give serious attention to conduct ; the next step is to point out those virtues most
necessary to be cultivated in youth , and the first of these is piety to God . Piety is the foundation of good morals ,, and is a disposition peculiarly graceful and becoming in youth . To be void of it argues a cold heart , destitute of some of the best affections found in early life . Youth is the season of warm and generous emotions , it is then we glow with love and affection : and where can any object be found so to kindle love
proper and gratitude , as the Father of the Universe , and the Author of all felicity ? But though piety springs from the heart , the aid of the understanding is required , to give a proper direction to the devout affections . You must therefore endeavour to acquire just views both of the great principles of natural reli gion , and of the peculiar doctrines of the gospel . At the same time you are not to apprehend that an exhortation to be
reliig ous includes an obligation of becoming more formal and solemn in your manners than others of the same age , or of erecting yourselves into supercilious reprovers of those around you . The spirit of true ¦ religion breathes gentleness and affability ; it is social , kind , and ' ehearful ; far removed from that gloomy illiberal superstition and bigotry which clouds the browsours the temperdejects the iritand impresses moroseness on
, , sp , the manners . Let your religion , on the contrary , prepare you for Heaven by a sincere , honourable , open discharge of the duties of active life : of such religion discover , on every proper occasion , that you are not . ashamed , without making any unnecessary ostentatious display of it bg = fore die world . 4 Q
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Address To You Th.
pionly flattering ; the livel y spirits of the young gild every prospect , and pleasure seems to put forth blossoms on every side . Impelled by desire , they rush forward with inconsiderate ardour : prompt to decide , averse to iniquity or hesitation ; credulous , because untaught by experience ; rash , because unacquainted " with danger ; headstrong , because unsubdued by disappointment ; hence arise the perils against which the design of the present address is to warn them .
Idaving then advanced beyond childhood , so as to look forward to such a plan of life as your circumstances have suggested , and your friends proposed , you cannot hesitate to acknowledge , that , in order , to adopt . it with any prospect of success , some previous discipline is necessary . Be assured that whatever is to be your profession , no education is more necessary to insure success , than the acquirement of virtuous dispositions
and habits . Bad as the world is , respect is always paid to virtue . Whether science , business , or public life be your aim , virtue still enters for a principal ingredient into all those departments of soeiety . It is connected with eminence in every liberal art ; with reputation in every branch of fair , and useful business ; and with distinction in every public station . The vigour which it imparts to the mindthe weiht which it adds to
, g the character , the generous sentiments which it breathes , the fortitude which it inspires , the diligence which it quickens , are the sure foundations of all that is great and valuable in life , Llaving thus shewn the importance of beginning early to give serious attention to conduct ; the next step is to point out those virtues most
necessary to be cultivated in youth , and the first of these is piety to God . Piety is the foundation of good morals ,, and is a disposition peculiarly graceful and becoming in youth . To be void of it argues a cold heart , destitute of some of the best affections found in early life . Youth is the season of warm and generous emotions , it is then we glow with love and affection : and where can any object be found so to kindle love
proper and gratitude , as the Father of the Universe , and the Author of all felicity ? But though piety springs from the heart , the aid of the understanding is required , to give a proper direction to the devout affections . You must therefore endeavour to acquire just views both of the great principles of natural reli gion , and of the peculiar doctrines of the gospel . At the same time you are not to apprehend that an exhortation to be
reliig ous includes an obligation of becoming more formal and solemn in your manners than others of the same age , or of erecting yourselves into supercilious reprovers of those around you . The spirit of true ¦ religion breathes gentleness and affability ; it is social , kind , and ' ehearful ; far removed from that gloomy illiberal superstition and bigotry which clouds the browsours the temperdejects the iritand impresses moroseness on
, , sp , the manners . Let your religion , on the contrary , prepare you for Heaven by a sincere , honourable , open discharge of the duties of active life : of such religion discover , on every proper occasion , that you are not . ashamed , without making any unnecessary ostentatious display of it bg = fore die world . 4 Q