some in mechanics, and some in this art, and others in that. And every artificer and professional man needs skill in his own art and profession: but no man needs skill in them all. The knowledge of this or that art or profession would be useless to him who pursues another of quite a different kind. The carpenter may erect a building without an acquaint. ance with medicine; the husbandman may success. fully manage his farm without the study of politics; the householder may discharge his domestic obligations without understanding the controversy between France and Britain, and the citizen may perform his social duties without reading Vattel or Puffendorf on the laws of nations. The man who wants skill in his proper profession is contemptible; and he who studies the mysteries of every profession rather than his own, is trifling and impertinent.

It

But religious wisdom is of common concern. is as necessary for one as for another, and for all as

for any.

This, you will all agree, is necessary for a minister, and an officer in the church. A teacher of religion, who is ignorant of the doctrines and regardless of the duties of that religion which he pretends to teach, is despicable in the eyes of all men. But why is religion more necessary in a minister than in you? Can you be saved without it any better than he can? Or are the terms of his salvation different from the terms of yours? You will is appointed a teacher. Very well. But if religion concerns no body but him, why should he teach it to others? The very institution of the ministerial office shews the necessity of religion to all men.

say,

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This is alike necessary for members of the church, and for the men of the world. It is the general sense of mankind that the professors of the gospel should understand it and live agreeably to it. If any of them are profane, intemperate, dishonest, conten

tious, or in any respect openly immoral and vicious, every one condemns them as contradicting their profession, and belieing their character. But do you imagine, that you can safely live in immorality and vice? Do you hope to be saved without renouncing your wickedness? Do you suppose, that nothing binds a man to virtue and piety, but his public profession? Remember, every religious obligation lies on you as completely as on the Christian professor. If religion is in its nature indifferent, there is no need of a profession. But if it is true and important, then you and every other man are bound to make a sin cere profession of it, and to live agreeably to this profession when it is made.

Religion is alike necessary for rich and poor. As the former must be rich in good works, and thus lay up for himself a treasure against the time to come; so the latter must be rich in faith, and thus become an heir of the kingdom which God has promised. The rich man must have a heart weaned from his worldly riches: The poor man must have a heart resigned to his worldly condition. The man who, swallowed up in the cares and anxieties of this life, neglects the work of his salvation, can have no claim to heaven, for he is not prepared to enter into it. And it makes no real difference of character, whether his anxieties arise from his having so much,' or having so little of the world. The poor man who is solicitous for the supplies of life, who distrusts the providence of God, and who envies his wealthy neighbors; and the rich man who is solicitous to preserve and increase his substance, who trusts in his abundance, and who despises the poor around him, both discover the same worldly spirit; and if they should exchange conditions, they would also exchange characters. Each would then feel and act just as the other does now. The rich man's

wealth will not purchase, nor the poor man's suffer. ings merit the kingdom of heaven. Both, before they can be admitted into it, must become qualified for it by a heart dead to the world, and alive to God. There may be some duties peculiar to the rich, and others peculiar to the poor; but the substance of religion is the same in both, and alike necessary for both. And if they are suitably impressed with a sense of the nature and importance of religion, both will be less anxious about the interests of the world.

Religion is equally necessary for the young and for the old. You who are young think, that an attention to futurity infinitely concerns the aged; for they are just about to leave this world, and go to their long home. You wonder that men, who expect not to live more than three or four years longer, can live a day thoughtless of their souls, which are so soon to pass away, and of that eternity which is just before them. You wonder that men in this solemn condition can have any solicitude about the interests of this life-about repairing their buildings, enriching their furniture, enlarging their farms, or extending their business. It seems to you, that, if you were as near to death, you should think of nothing but how to meet it, and contrive nothing but how to prepare for it. But know, my friends, what is wisdom in your fathers, is wisdom in you. You are as mortal as they. You are hastening to another world as fast as they, and, for aught that any of you can tell, you may be there as soon. You can no more enter into heaven without repentance of sin, and the choice and practice of religion, than others can. It is not age that makes religion necessary. It is necessary in its nature, and by God's immutable constitution. If this will be your wisdom forty years hence, it is your principal wisdom today. You see religion to be important to others.

But whatever reasons make it important to them, the same reasons make it so to you.

Apply then the exhortation in the text, for to you it is spoken, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom, and with all your gettings get un derstanding."

The word of God is able to make you wise to salvation, and to furnish you unto every good work. They who perish for want of wisdom, are the fools who despise instruction. There is a price in your hands to get wisdom; apply your hearts to acquire it. In the oracles of God you may find all that you need to know in relation to life and godliness.Think not that religion is dark and mysterious: It is plain and simple. To understand it, there needs only diligent application and an honest heart. When knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you and understanding will keep you.Other things you can easily learn; why not this? The rudiments of science and of business you can. acquire with facility, because your hearts are set upon them. Apply your minds with the same engagedness to the doctrines and duties of religion, and to the means and the terms of salvation, and you will as easily learn them. The difficulty of acquiring the knowledge of religion, arises not from the obscurity of the subject, but from the aversion or the indifference of the heart.

You will say, "It is God who gives wisdom." This is true: So says the scripture. Therefore, "if you lack wisdom, ask it of God, who gives liberally and upbraids not, and it shall be given you. "If you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; if you seek it as silver, and search for it as for hid treasures, then will you understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."

Wisdom comes to the soul by diligent attention and inquiry. Accustom yourselves therefore to serious meditation and selfexamination. Often review your conduct, search your hearts, reckon with yourselves, condemn your follies and correct your errors. Think of the dangers of a sinful, and the advantages of a godly life. Recollect what God has done for you-contemplate what still he is doing, and is ready farther to do; what encouragements he has set before you, and what assistances he offers you. Realize the uncertainty of life and the preciousness of time. Walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

The company which you keep will give a correspondent complexion to your habits and manners. He who walks with wise men will be wise, but a companion of fools will be destroyed. Therefore shun the company of the profane, and associate with the godly. Depart from evil doers, and be the companions of them who fear God.

Stand armed for sudden temptations, and avoid such as you foresee. A prudent man looks well to his goings; he foresees the evil and hides himself: The simple-the thoughtless pass on and are pun ished.

Before honor is humility. He who humbles himself shall be exalted. If you see one wise in his own conceit, well may you pity him, for there is more hope of a fool than of him. Think not of yourselves above that which you ought to think, but think soberly.

Be always attentive to hear, and forward to receive instruction and reproof. Think not yourselves too wise to be taught, too good to be admonished, or too infallible to be corrected. He who loves instruction shall find wisdom; but he who hates re