anger already kindled, and so become the partners in their guilt.

But, my young friends, recollect that there is one Friend, which you ought to seek the friendship of, above every earthly companion: He is one who has done more for you, than the dearest earthly friend can ever perform ; whose love and friendship was so great, that he died for you, that you might be happy. He will be your Friend when all others forsake you: In life and death and throughout eternity. Remember that he is one that loveth at all times, and sticketh closer than a brother.

Now, my dear young friends pray that God would guide you in the choice your compan ions, and bless you with serious and sincere friends. 3:

"Why should I join with those in play
In whom I've no delight,

Who curse and swear, but never pray,
Who call ill names and fight.

"I hate to hear a wanton song,
Their words offend my ears;
I would not dare defile my tongue,
With language such as theirs.

"Away from fools I'll turn mine eyes,
Nor with the scoffers go;

I would be walking with the wise,
That wiser I may grow.

"From one rude boy that's us'd to mock,
They learn the wicked jest:
One sickly sheep infects the flock,
And poisons all the rest.

"My God, I hate to walk or dwell
With sinful children here:
Then let me not be sent to hell,
Where none but sinners are."

LECT. IX.-Obedience to Parents,

COLLOSSIANS iii. 20. Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

My dear young friends,

I CANNOT recommend this highly important subject to you too soon. There is a natural disposition in children to think, to speak, and to act against the authority of their parents: And I fear, my young friends, that many of you are not quite free from this fault. Now give me your attention. "Hearken to thy father which begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old." Abraham Crost, who had an only son, gave him, when he married; all the little property he had saved by many years hard labour, on this condition, that the son should take care of the father, and maintain him when he was not able to work :

by means of the father's kindness, the son was enabled to take a house, purchase a horse and cart, and have a piece of garden-ground: The poor old man worked early and late for his son, because he loved him: he laboured beyond his strength, and at last he caught a violent cold, and was not able to work any longer: when he could work no more, the son was obliged to hire a man to do his father's work: Both the son and his wife behaved very unkindly to the poor old man; but little Tommy, his grandson, was so dutiful and kind, that he comforted his grandfather greatly in his affliction: at last, he was positively told that he must go to the poorhouse, for they had something else to do besides nursing him. Shocked at this unfeeling behaviour, he rose from his chair in the chimney corner, and with great difficulty crept away to a little out-house in the garden, where a violent fit of coughing seized him, and he was ready to die little Tommy, who heard what his mother said, followed his grandfather, who, in the anguish of his mind, desired him to go and fetch the rug from his bed, that he might wrap it round him, and sit in the high-way and beg little Tommy immediately burst into tears, but thinking it would be undutiful to refuse, he ran into the house: his father met him, and seeing him in tears, enquired where he was going, and what was the matter? I am going, said the child, for the rug from my grandfather's bed, that he may wrap it round him,

and go a begging. Let him go, said the un-
feeling son, who is to bear with his humours?
I will go, cried Tommy, and immediately
brought the rug, which he carried to his father,
saying, pray father cut it in two, half of it will
be large enough for grandfather, and perhaps
you may want the other half, when I am grown
a man, and turn you out of doors. Struck with
these words, he began to reflect on his conduct,
and to consider what he should feel at receiving
such base treatment from his own son: he has-
tened to his father, and begged his forgiveness,
promising not only to treat him with dutiful
respect, but to insist on his wife's doing the
same. Abraham readily forgave his son, and
returned with him into the house, but
after closed his eyes in death.

"Some children, cruel and unkind,
To parents disobedient prove;
How can such children hope to see

very soon

That God who is the God of love."

I. I shall endeavour to explain the duty; that is, show what is meant by obedience. The word obey, or obedience, means a reverence for the person of your parents, and attention to their counsel and advice; an acknowledgement of their superiority, or right to govern, and likewise quiet submission to their authority and rebuke.

First, I will endeavour to inform you what it is to obey your parents. A civil obliging and

modest behaviour is the duty of all of you; it is expected from you-but the Lord is now instructing you, in the text, how to behave at home: consider therefore who you are taught to obey your parents, both father and mo. ther; both of them are to be obeyed in the same manner and degree; and you are to love them as your parents.

1. It requires you all to treat the persons and characters of your parents with the greatest respect; they are your superiors, your greatest friends and benefactors. It is by no means allowable, my dear young friends, for you to make the faults of your parents the subject of conversation; do not be heard to say, at any time, that they are guilty in this or that; that you do not approve of this or that; no, rather hide their faults, and conceal them from the knowledge of others. How did the sons of Noah behave? two of them conducted themselves with respect towards their father, and received the blessing of God; while the other, for making sport of the fault of his parent, brought down upon his head the heavy displeasure of an angry God.

2. To obey your parents, is to attend to their instructions and advice. Remember that you know but little; you are liable to be mistaken; they have been more years in the world than you, therefore they must know more and better than you: children are but of yesterday, and know nothing, compared with what they ought