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a noble company of scholars do I see before me at this time, and attentive ones too. There are not only a few hundreds or a few thousands, but all the children in the universe are scholars in this school; and though it is so very large, yet the Lord is able to teach you all without the assistance of any other teacher; but though the Lord does not stand in need of any assistant teacher, yet like other teachers, he thinks fit to make use of a monitor in this large school. Now I think I hear a whisper "who is the monitor? who is the monitor?" I will tell you, my dear young friends, the name of the monitor is Conscience, by him we are reminded of the shortness of time, the account that we must give to the great Teacher and Master of assemblies, of the manner in which it has been spent; and by this monitor, we are frequently sharply reproved for the many hours and days that have been wasted in idleness and sinful delight. what O a sad report does this monitor give to the Teacher, concerning many of the scholars in this school. Some are obstinate scholars; some are dull scholars; some are hard hearted scholars; some are very careless and take no pains at all to improve their time; but there are a few who seem desirous of numbering their days, and applying their hearts unto wisdom; they appear serious and thoughtful, and may soon be distin guished from the other scholars in this school.

The only school book made use of in this school, is the Bible: The copy you should imi

tate is a good example, and the arithmetic they study is divine. This is the song of the scholars

"Well if our days must run,

We'll keep their end in sight,

We'll spend them all in wisdom's way,
And let them speed their flight."

IV. I come next to consider the education spoken of in the text; that is, what you have to learn; this I shall divide into two branches.

1st. The art of numbering our days. That you may do it aright, let us begin by enumerating the mercies you have received; how many are the days and nights that you have been preserved; God has blessed you with health and strength, with food and clothing, with kind and indulgent parents; to some of you, God has given pious parents, by their prayers and instructions you have been blessed; and they have given you a suitable education, you have been taught a variety of the useful and ornamental branches of education; some of you have been blessed with pious teachers, and have been taught the principles of that religion which alone can make you happy in this life and in the life to come. Many of you not only enjoy every necessary, but the delicacies and comforts of life, and even the superfluities of life; many are the religious advantages that you enjoy, you hear the gospel of Jesus, you can read the word of God, Jesus is ready to be your best friend,

the Holy Spirit waits to teach you, and God himself will be your guide-even this lecture is a privilege.

"Great are the blessings we enjoy,

Above what millions know;
And when we hear thy holy word,
A blessing Lord bestow."

2d. Let us add up, or count the returns that have been made to God for all these mercies. Do you thank God sincerely for his goodness to you? Have you been obedient to your parents and attentive to their advice? Are you diligent in the duties of the school, and have you made that improvement there which you ought? Do you know the principles of religion, or, I might say, do you know your catechism? have you attended these lectures or at the house of God to hear his word on the sabbath day? Are you thankful for your food and raiment, and other comforts which you enjoy? I think you ought to be, when you know how many are destitute of them: Many persons in Switzerland, in the year 1803, had no other food than that which was made of bones, chaff, and bark of a fir tree, this they dipped in hot water and salt, and eat it instead of bread; and yet how many unthankful children there are in the world. Do you not often neglect to pray to God? Do you know Jesus Christ? Do you love him? Have you prayed to be taught by the Spirit of God, how to

improve your time, and to number your days? Did you ever say,

"O may thy Spirit teach,

And make my heart receive

Those truths which all thy servants preach,
And all thy saints believe."

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3d. Endeavour to subtract the time that has Been wasted and lost; so much time wasted in saying, a little more sleep and a little more slumber," so much time wasted in waiting for and eating your food; so much time in dressing and adorning the body; so much time in idleness and play; so much time in walking, riding, skating, sliding, on the Sabbath day; so much time in loitering in the street as you go and as you come home from school; so much time wasted in learning an idle song, in reading a novel or a romance; so much time spent at the theatre; so much time at the card table; so much time at the tea party; so much time in doing nothing at all. A wise man once said that we all complain of the shortness of time, and yet we have much more than we know what to do with; our days are either spent in doing no thing at all, or in doing nothing to the purpose; or in doing that which we ought not to do," take away the time that has been lost or wasted, and the time spent in that which is really necessary, how little will remain for God and religion.

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4th. Proceed to multiply the sins that you have committed during the past year, allowing three sins in each day, one idle word, one sinful action, one evil thought, multiply this by three and it will amount to one thousand and ninety-five sins in one year. If we count from the time that you were five years old, and suppose you to be now ten years, by multiplying by five it will amount to five thousand four hundred and seventy-five; you are fifteen years age we may double this number, by so doing you will find that you have committed ten thousand nine hundred and fifty sins in the space of ten years; but this is only allowing you to have committed but three sins in one day, while many of you have committed twice and perhaps three times as many. O what an amazing number of sins, and for every one of these you must give an account to God!

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5th. Let us divide the present year in a suitable manner-there are twenty-four hours in one day, allow eight hours for sleep, eight hours for eating, drinking, dressing, reading the scriptures, praying to God, and other necessary things, and eight hours for going to school, learning your lessons, and storing every knowledge that is good and useful; let your sport be improvement, harmless, useful and healthy; let no day pass without prayer and reading the Bible or Testament; and if you were to learn two or three verses every day, only think how many verses that would be in a year. Let no day pass

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