DISSWASIVE againjl a carelefs LIFE. 179 
hopes. If you are chrifKans ; if you have confidence in jesus 
christ ; if you will obey hitn as your king and lawgiver ; if 
you believe that he has brought life and immortality to 
light, obey his laws. Study the precepts which have been 
carefully tranfmitted down from age to age, for your invariable 
rule and guide of life. In a word, use your reason, or expedt 
to be punished for ingratitude to the god who made you a 
rational being.” 
You may be fenfible of the force of fuch an expoflulatioir, 
and yet call me back and afk, how in this pleafure- taking world, 
where fancy and opinion have affumed the province of rea- 
son ; where fo many temptations are within our own breafts, 
and fo many furround us from without ; how, under fuch cir- 
cumftances, you can get loofe from the fhackles of cuflom and 
fafhion, and break the chains by which you are held ? Do 
you afk thefe queftions ferioufly ? Do you diftruft your own ex- 
perience ? Happiness, or perhaps you will better underfland 
my meaning if I call it pleasure, is certainly the objedt we all 
purfue. And what can I fay more than repeat my admonition, 
and afFure you that the pradtice of virtue is the truest, the 
highest pleafure ? “ Her ways are ways of pleafantnefs, and all 
“ her paths are peace.” And yet, how many of us forfeit our 
happiness in purfuit of our pleasure ! We wander from the 
true path, run after a vapor, and fall into perdition. — If this is 
too general a leffon, I will bring it more home : T will recom- 
mend you to your own heart, to commune with it, not in a 
croud, but in your chamber. In other words, will you do your- 
felf the juftice to think ? Will you be advifed to read fuch books 
A a 2 as 
