consequences of your choice, in the extremes of rapture or of wo, all along the mighty cycle of eternity.

But it is time to pass to the remaining branch of the subject, and to show,

II. That the season of your youth is of great importance to the world.

1. Young people exert great influence over each other. This inevitably follows from the laws of social intercourse. Mankind are so constituted, that they cannot associate freely together without receiving and communicating impressions. This law of our social being is specially illustrated in all densely peopled communities, because the points of contact are unusually numerous. And it is still more emphatically illustrated in the unreserved freedom of intercourse, which obtains among persons engaged in the same occupation. Continually and insensibly are they exerting an influence over each other, of the most important character. Nor is this incompatible with independence of mind. Real independence does not disdain the opinions of others, nor retire, in haughty disgust, from society. But it rather invites their opinions, gives them a candid hearing, and allows them all the weight to which they are fairly entitled. This condescending and generous treatment of the sentiments of others, is a necessary ingredient in genuine dignity of mind.

Your time of life is, therefore, of great moment to society, inasmuch as you are giving to each other a cast of character which no lapse of ages can destroy.

Your passing period of life is of immense importance to the world,

2. Because the first generation of manufacturers in this country, will materially affect all subsequent ones. Perhaps it may be said that such a generation does not yet exist-that those who are now engaged in manufacturing pursuits regard them as mere temporary occupations, from which they intend soon to retire to other employments. Such is unquestionably the intention of a very large majority of those who are at present thus occupied. But when children, in no inconsiderable numbers, are put into manufactories at the early age of eleven years, and even earlier, and kept there from year to year with but perhaps an annual respite of three or four months for purposes of education, there can be no doubt in the mind of any observant man, that the system on which manufactures are conducted is rapidly creating, and has, in fact, already created a class, which may be properly called manufacturers. The moral influence of manufactures is now undergoing the test of experiment. The ultimate result is not developed. Not our own country only, but the great commonwealth of nations is deeply interested in the issue. Much, very much of the moral influence of this growing interest, will depend on the character of those who are connected with it during its incipient stages. You, and other youth similarly situated, will do much towards deciding the question, whether the manufacturing establishments of our country are to be, as some of their enemies predict, the veriest hotbeds of ignorance, and degradation, and radicalism, and crime; or, whether they are to equal, or even to surpass other occupations in intelligence, and virtue, and magnanimous devotion to the best interests of man. Point me, then, if you can, to the class of young men and young females in our land, which are acting under responsibilities so momentous. If the young people, who compose so large a portion of our manufacturing communities, will but awake to the influence they must exert on their successors for generations to come, there will be but little cause for solicitude as to the result of the experiment now in progress. Their well known spirit of enterprise-their thirst for improvement-their self-respect their liberality, accompanied with the requisite sense of responsibility in the case, will be a sufficient guaranty, under God, that the manufacturing interest will exert a salutary moral influence on the world.

Your season of life is of pre-eminent importance to others,

3. Because the world is more easily and extensively affected by moral influence than at any preceding period. The present has been appropriately styled "the transition age." The world is now passing from a condition of great moral deformity and debasement, to one of millennial beauty and elevation. The foundations of many generations are breaking up. The general mind of man is waking from the slumber of ages. The moral elements are in high commotion. Opinion is dashing against opinion, like the waves of ocean against the shore. Moral causes exert a hundred fold more power than they did in the twelfth century. The influence of the press is tremendous. The ends of the earth are brought into juxtaposition by means of steam. Whatever of importance is done in any place, affects, with electrical quickness, the antipodes. Never before was the world in such an excitable, impressible state. Never before did a generation of youth appear on the stage of action, with so many facilities for doing good or evil. Never before was the moral "strength" of the "young" so herculean; and never before, if they will exert that strength aright, could it win such victories of benevolence, or place on their heads crowns of such surpassing brilliancy.

Finally, The season of your youth is important to the world, because the church of God has claims upon your influence. I am not addressing a congregation of young people, who are ignorant of the moral "signs of the times." You are well aware, that high expectations are entertained, and on the best of grounds, that the religion of the gospel is soon to become the religion of the world. But great must be the expenditure of time and strength, and property and life, before that glorious consummation can be realized. To whom, then, so far as instrumental agency is concerned, is the church to look for help, if not to the youthto those whose "strength" is their "glory?

YOUNG MEN, the church calls on you for aid. She hath need of you. She needs your hearts, your time, your substance, your influence, your prayers, your labors. Devote yourselves, then, like youthful Samuel and Timothy, to the Lord. "The field," to which he summons you, "is the world." Here is scope enough for your philanthropy and enterprise. Live and die in promoting