any other object, when it comes in collision, or interferes, with this; certainly, during the eight or ten years of their preparatory course. On this ground I have urged the imperious necessity lying upon such, to deny themselves every gratification of the palate, inconsistent with the most vigorous exercise of the mind. On the same ground, I warn them against the mighty and dangerous influence of love. If they fall under its magic influence, and become devotedly attached to some angelic nymph, while yet they are green in literature, and have not acquired an unconquerable relish for study; I do not say that they are inevitably ruined; but they are walking along the edge of a precipice, over which thousands and thousands have plunged: At any rate, they have thrown a mighty obstacle into their literary course; and it will be marvellous, if their progress afterwards be not with a feeble and halting step.

"To sighs devoted and to tender pains,
Pensive you sit, or solitary stray,

And waste your youth in musing—

The infected mind,

Dissolv'd in female tenderness, forgets

Each manly virtue and grows dead to fame.

Sweet heaven, from such intoxicating charms

Defend all worthy breasts !"—Armstrong on health, p. 96.

I am not arguing, with misanthropic stoicism, against a proper attention to this subject at the proper time. It is a wise and beneficent law of heaven, that the heart should yield to its influence, when it will not interfere with other concerns of higher moment. But why this great hurry to be unalterably affianced to some bewitching fair one, while yet the tastes, and habits, and manners of the student are forming? and especially, while he has an object before him, sufficient for his whole powers to grapple with; I mean the thorough discipline of his mind by study? When his education is finished, and his taste and habits are formed, he will have ample leisure to attend to this concern; and will

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then be less under the influence of a skittish fancy, and less liable to become tired of his choice. For however the ardent lover of eighteen may resent it, it is true, that as his mind becomes more expanded, his taste more correct, and his acquaintance with the world more extensive, the angelic charms of his lovely fair one, may fade away; and he find himself in the sad dilemma, of spending life with one for whom he has little respect, or attachment; or of violently breaking asunder engagements, for whose fulfilment he is most solemnly pledged. Such a dilemma is a perfect cure for the enthusiastic notion, so prevalent among the young, that these sexual attachments are beyond their control; and that if the spell comes over them, they have nothing to do but to submit to it; indeed, that these “congenial minds” are fitted for one another in heaven, before their descent to this world; according to the love sick ditty of Dr. Watts' Indian Philosopher.

The wisest course.

Wisest and happiest by far, then, in my opinion, is that student, who during his collegiate course, avoids the snare of female love. I do not mean to charge him with moral delinquency if he is entangled: but I say to him, that he has bound a load upon his back, that will be very likely to retard his progress up the hill of science; and which may altogether discourage him from advancing. Nay, let him not forget, that this very hindrance has turned not a few talented and even pious youth, out of the path that leads to usefulness and respectability, and sent them down into the valley of forgetfulness--alas, some have landed in the gulf of infamy. And where else should we expect to find such, as have given themselves up to female influence! “An ille mihi liber videatur, cui mulier imperat, cui leges imponit, praescribit, jubet, vetat quod videtur; cui nihil imperanti negare potest, nihil recusare audet? Poscit? dandum est. Vocat? veniendum. Ejicit? abeundum. Mi

natur? extimescendum. Ego vero istum non modo servum, sed nequissimum servum puto."(Cicero.)

But if virtuous love be thus dangerous, what shall I say of every species of meretricious connexion? What shall I say? Solomon has already said it all, with the tongue of inspiration. He has shown us the way to the house of infamy, and hung up over its entrance, in burning characters, the appalling inscription—HER HOUSE IS THE WAY TO HELL: HER GUESTS ARE IN THE DEPTHS OF HELL-NONE THAT GO UNTO HER RETURN AGAIN, NEITHER TAKE THEY HOLD OF THE PATHS OF LIFE. If the student heeds not this warning, it is because moral principle, and the sense of shame, and the fear of God, are banished from his bosom; and therefore it is useless to make any farther appeal to one who is thrice dead.

Holy Love.

But to turn our thoughts far, far away from such scenes, I remark, that there are exercises of the principle of love, which have an omnipotent sway over every unruly passion, and a most salutary effect upon the health. I refer to the love which religion inspires for holy objects: for God as the supreme excellence, and for other beings, in proportion to their purity and value. This is the mighty energy, that is able to control the fiercest passions, and to strip the most desponding of their power. Even the settled melancholy of the bilious and the nervous--obstinately defying every other agency-may be dissipated by holy love. This turns off the affections and the attention from created objects, and makes the man feel, that it is of little consequence what evils betide him here, or through what storms he has to pass, since there are cloudless skies a little beyond, and a secure haven, which he is sure of entering and enjoying.

"His hand the good man fastens on the skies,

And bids earth roll, nor feels her idle whirl."

He can take up, and apply the triumphant reasoning of Paul: If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not, with him, also, freely give us all things.

When such a principle is in vigorous exercise in a man's bosom, what inferior passion will dare to lift its puny arm to make war therein? And the serenity, cheerfulness, and stability, which it inspires, exert a mightier power in the prevention and cure of diseases, than any prescription the physician's Dispensatory can furnish. Yea, and when nature grapples with her last enemy, it is this principle alone, that enables the soul still to triumph; and amid the ruins of the body, to exclaim, O Death, where is thy sting! O Grave, where is thy victory!