Curious fpeculations, learned enquiries, philofophical difquifitions, or the diftinctions of a metaphyfical Divinity, did not enter into my defign. If they had, they might have been easily extracted from a moderate library. But, partly to impress upon the youthful mind, fentiments of piety and worth, partly to warn it against the mifchiefs to which it is most exposed in a ftate of public manners highly corrupt and feducing, was my chief endeavour.

Fam under little apprehenfion, that those who join liberality of fentiment to seriousnefs of principle, will reject the friendly counfels here prefented, because they are not introduced with Texts of Scripture, because they are not fettered by the formalities of method, or yet because they are accompanied with illuftrations, remarks, and modes of compellation, more familiar, lefs folemn, and nearer the level of common life, than have been often adopted in grave difcourfes.

It will be understood, that I speak to Young Men at large, as forming one numerous Affembly, which I fuppofe to be present, and whose presence I feel to be an object of importance and animation. I only except the hypocritical bigot, the profligate infidel, and the malevolent detracter. For them I profess no zeal: on them I can ftamp no impreffion; and from them I expect no quarter, if they should chance to mix with my hearers.

It will likewise be perceived, that these Two Volumes comprife but a portion of my fubject, which appears on the flighteft furvey both comprehenfive and variTo do it but tolerable juftice, many topics of much moment will afterwards require our confideration, if it shall please Heaven to afford leifure and ability.

ous.