sive views of the nature of man, and the relations of human society. It is not the existence, therefore, but the improvement of time, to which we can attribute all changes and all events.

Hence it appears why greater importance is attached to some periods of life than to others. Existence itself, that is, the duration of an object, is not susceptible of any change. Its value can be altered only by the circumstances under which it is enjoyed. Why are the years of infancy less precious than those of youth or manhood? For this reason only, that the infant is not capable of such exertions, either of body or mind, as can be made with much facility by those who are further advanced in age. For a similar reason, that part of life is most valuable, in which advantages for intellectual and moral improvement, or for beneficent exertion, are possessed in greatest abundance.

When you look abroad on that part of the world which is subject to your remark, you perceive a striking diversity of condition and character. Some men have their minds disciplined, and their manners softened; others continue in the ignorance and rudeness of nature. Some are justly the objects of confidence and love; while others are viewed with hatred or suspicion. Many, by their knowledge, integrity, and beneficence, seem created to bless society by acting in spheres of great extent; while a more numerous class hold their existence in obscurity, or have a limited notoriety from their vices alone.

Nor, if you take into view those only who have received a public education, will the diversity be much less remarkable.— Among these you observe some of very high standing in society, and many who with less splendid powers, have acquired solid reputation, and are exerting a virtuous influence on those around them. You behold others who are the pest of society, a burden to themselves; and a disgrace to the seminaries from which they issued. There are some whom it would be your joy to resemble-there are others, an anticipated likeness to whom would cause your hearts to sink within you. Now it is to be considered, that this difference, and even contrast of character does by no means exclusively result from inequality of native powers.

It arises from the cultivation which these powers receive, and the different uses to which they are applied. In other words, it proceeds from the abuse of time, or from a right employment of it.

But there is yet a more interesting view to be taken of this subject. All who once participated in earthly existence, do not at present, come within our observation. Yet their place in the universe is not vacated. They are still living agents, with great enlargement of powers, capacity, and knowledge. Open then the world of spirits. By the aid of religion, draw aside that broad curtain, so impervious to the light which nature has thrown over the future destiny of human beings. Behold them in full activity, reaping a harvest corresponding with the seed which was sown during their existence on earth. Contemplate the slothful servant cast into outer darkness, where there is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Contemplate others, who having improved their talents, are now admitted into the joy of their Lord. On one side, everlasting life; on the other, shame and everlasting contempt.

All this too is the result of time.

Characters so different

were formed during a very limited probation.

"Time is eternity;

Pregnant with all eternity can give;

Pregnant with all that makes archangels smile :

Who murders time, he crusheth in the birth

A power etherial, only not adored."-Young.

I now proceed to enumerate some of the ways in which time is frequently wasted by young gentlemen, who are professedly engaged in literary pursuits.

1. Your time will be partially lost, if your reading is not conducted agreeably to some plan or method. The accomplishment of any thing valuable, must be preceded by design. To effect any thing to good purpose, it is necessary to know previously what we mean to effect. The object aimed at must be well defined; and the path leading to it must be distinctly marked. The importance of what is here recommended will be

rendered obvious by the following illustration. At rising in the morning, one person submits it to chance in what manner the day shall be spent. He reads the book that is casually thrown in his way, and continues the reading no longer than he is prompted by present inclination. Should another be presented, it is assumed with equal readiness, and abandoned with the same caprice. Another person has the subject of investigation before him, and the book by which he is determined to aid his inquiries. At the close of the day there will be an important difference in the value of their respective acquirements. In the latter case, the mind is fixed upon its object; in the former, it has no object. The one pursues the path previously marked out for himself; the other had no path to pursue.

That which is true of a day, may be true of a year, or of a longer period.

2. Much time is lost in reading with divided attention. The power of fixing the attention, i. e. of commanding the thoughts, has the most important connexion with mental improvement. Your acquisitions will be very nearly proportionate to the degree in which this power is possessed; and this power, let it be observed, is not born with us, but is the creature of habit. So far obtain the command of your minds, as easily to exclude all thoughts foreign to the subject which you wish to investigate, and your success in the investigation will exceed your hopes. But if while a book, however well chosen, engrosses the eye, the attention is shared by another object, or divided among many, little will be acquired; and what is still worse, the mind becomes unmanageable, and habits of inattention will be confirmed. Nor ought I to omit this opportunity of suggesting, that as memory depends much on attention, you will by this careless manner of reading, form a bad memory, or impair a good one. I speak of forming a memory, in a full belief that this is as truly within our own power, as to form an intellectual or moral character.

You have all been sensible, I presume, on some occasions, of the difficulty of confining your attention to a particular subject, and you have known too, the unhappy effects in which this dif

ficulty has resulted. We sometimes imagine that we have made great efforts in studying a subject, when in reality, the subject has scarcely been studied at all. The effort has been chiefly expended in unsuccessful endeavors to fix the mind. The general of an army could hardly be so far mistaken, as to suppose that he had been engaged in hard fighting, when he had been principally occupied in urging his troops, or in bringing back fugitives into the line. Whatever you read or study, let your mind be wholly engrossed by the subject.

3. A state of mind nearly allied to that which has just been noticed is indecision. You must not only ascertain what ought to be done, but must determine to do it. There is doubtless a time for deliberating; and on the right use of this it depends whether a man's life shall be distinguished for temerity, or good judgment. But the whole of life is not to be devoted to inquiry or indecision. Deliberation becomes important chiefly because it relates to action. The purpose of inquiry is to ascertain the fitness of an object, and the most direct and honorable way to attain it.

Let doubt and deliberation end, whenever it becomes fully apparent what ought to be done. No great effort of bodily strength is to be expected, when the sinews and fibres are relaxed. In this particular, there is a striking coincidence between the body and the mind. There must be a tone, a kind of elasticity produced in the intellectual powers; otherwise the greatest advantage will not be obtained, from your time and means of instruction. Nothing of very high value can be acquired without determination.

It is among the most permanent advantages of a collegiate education, that the general course of study is defined and established. In this respect there can be no uncertainty what ought to be done. The object is distinctly exhibited. Nothing is wanting but determination and perseverance. But while these are wanting, time will be partially lost, and the progress of mental cultivation will be slow and disheartening.

4. Another way of losing time is by spending it in idle conversation, and low pursuits. I need not inform you how criminal this is, when contemplated in a moral view. You know an VOL. II.

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whose authority it rests, that "by our words we shall be justified or condemned." I have at present, peculiar reference to your intellectual characters and progress. Conversation relating to your stated exercises, or on subjects of science and literature in general, is doubtless a very correct and advantageous way of spending your time. It well becomes young men of academical character, to cultivate literary intercourse. Your exercises will hereby become the more familiar, and the subjects to which they relate be more deeply impressed on the mind. In addition to this you will acquire a command of language, and ability to take part in literary discussions. On the contrary, by idle, impure, or profane conversation, and low pursuits, your intellectual natures will be degraded-you will contract aversion from manly and laudable employments-you will lose all relish for good society and be prepared on leaving college, to form such associations as will lead you either to forget or to pervert to the worst purposes, whatever of knowledge may be here obtained.

To secure that attention which is so necessary to the student's success, the codes of all literary institutions have provided, that certain hours should be punctually devoted to study. Were this provision not accompanied with any allowance of time for relaxation, it would be evidently unreasonable. But where ample provision of this kind is made, all infringement on the law -all neglect of study-hours must be without excuse. A habit. of leaving your rooms, or of freely admitting others into them, in hours of study, is with obvious propriety, noticed and condemned by the laws of this Seminary. The former is indeed a twofold offence; first, against order, for the maintenance of - which the law has made a wise provision; and secondly against politeness, as a person thus guilty throws himself on those who are desirous of making a better use of their time, and may not possess the resolution, which indeed they ought to have, of saying to him plainly that his visits are unwelcome.

Amusements are justifiable, so far only, as they contribute to health, or prepare the mind for more vigorous and effectual application. By bodily exercise both these objects are accom