and where this conviction would be frequently returning to depress my ideas, and to damp my efforts.

It was also obvious to confider, that the attraction of novelty was gone; that the public is apt to rife in its demands in proportion to its paft indulgence; that many would expect fomething better than what preceded, without allowing for the greater difficulty of the tafk; and that readers of more candour might be difappointed, without any blameable defect on the part of the writer. He might use his utmost diligence in a work, which he undertook for reafons apparently good, but which from its nature was unavoidably less interefting: or he might make the attempt at a period of life, when affiduity was relaxed, and ardour abated.

By reflections of this fort I was reftrained for a courfe of years. At length, however, I affumed refolution from the

vi PREF

PREFACE.
FACE.

repeated and animating calls of kindness; and to thofe Young Men, who had virtue or decency enough to give me an attentive hearing, I applied myself from the Pulpit in a series of Difcourfes, which I meant afterwards to publifh. Nor did I meet with any thing inaufpicious on the occafion; the ufual audience being from that time increafed by a number of fuch, whofe approbation was not more encouraging, than their attendance was regular and serious. But on weighing yet further the circumstances before mentioned, I fixed at laft on the plan now executed, in which I have ftudied to accommodate myself alfo to the gayer part of my youthful friends, for whose happiness, as well as for that of the graver, I fhall always be folicitous, without giving up a fingle point of true religion, or found morality.

It has been my aim to engage the hearts, no less than the understandings, of my hearers, in favour of truth and goodness.

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 imprefs upon the youthful mind, fentiments of piety and worth, partly to warn it against the mischiefs to which it is most exposed in a ftate of public manners highly corrupt and feducing, was my chief endeavour.

I am under little apprehenfion, that those who join liberality of thought to feriousnefs 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 discourses.

It will be understood, that I speak to Young Men at large, as forming one numerous Affembly, which I fuppofe to be prefent, and whofe prefence 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 profefs no zeal on them I can stamp 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 comprise but a portion of my subject, which appears on the flightest furvey both comprehenfive and various. To do it but tolerable juftice, many topics of much moment will afterwards require our confideration, if it shall please Heaven to afford leisure and ability.