early rising is one of the most obvious and effectual.

II. That it must be by reason of the lamentable propensity of mankind to despise the things that belong to their happiness, that they can neglect a habit so favourable to the best purposes of life;

III. To prayer, to thankfulness, to the preservation of a clear conscience, to successful exertion in the warfare in which we are commanded to fight.

IV. That whatever arguments concur to prove early devotion, or devotion in general, to be necessary to all who profess the christian religion, cannot but apply particularly to the university, as the religious institution of a christian country, the fountain of a christian church; where the younger members may be expected, chiefly and above all things else, to be re

plenished with the truth of the holy doctrines of christianity, and to learn to prove themselves worthy examples to the rest of the community, in that innocence and purity of life which christianity imperatively requires; and where the elder members may be expected to be the examples as well as governors of the younger *.

I. In reading the works of the old divines of the church of England, I have been astonished at the immense learning which they pour forth: but, as it seems their practice was, in those hours which

* In the minister's duty in life and doctrine, Bishop Jeremy Taylor thus addresses the Clergy. "You are the choicest of his choice; the elect of his election; a church picked out of the church; vessels of honour for your master's use; appointed to teach others. They (every one of the christian congregation) are to be examples of good life to one another ; but you are to be examples even of the examples themselves." In the present case, the climax might be carried even one step higher.

at present are consumed in so very different a manner, to rise and offer up their hearty prayers to the Most High for his blessing on their labours, and his guidance through their lives, it can be no wonder that they were learned; their writings, at least, sufficiently prove that in order to the acquisition of great learning in particular, great piety is to be sought not in the last, but in the first place. Their endeavours were successful, because they used those means which could best ensure success. And though it is not the ambition of every man, like them, "to hold aloft the blazing torch of revelation," to illustrate and enforce, by great learning and wisdom, the sacred truths contained in the holy Scriptures, yet it may be inferred from their example, that great piety not only sanctifies but promotes our honest undertakings in general.

It is true that ambition may be successful with which piety has nothing to do,

and that progress in knowledge may be commensurate with proficiency in vice; that the Bible itself may be studied, as it often is, with respect to real improvement, in vain; made to administer, by irreverent and blasphemous misapplication, to the worse than puerile levity of many who profess to revere its authority; cited by some who can object and qua

*

* "Whatsoever does gender strife the apostle commands us to avoid; and, therefore, much more the strife itself. A controversy is a stone in the mouth of the hearer, who should be fed with bread; it engages both sides in uncertainty and uncharitableness; and after all it is not food for souls; it is the food of contention, and it can never be ended: every man is right, and every man is wrong in these things; and no man can tell who is right or who is wrong. For as long as a word can be spoken against a word, and a thing be opposite to a thing; as long as places are hard and men are ignorant; for ever till men willingly confess themselves to be fools and deceived, so long will the saw of contention be drawn from side to side. Christian religion loves not tricks nor artifices of wonder, but like the natural and amiable simplicity of Jesus, by plain and easy propositions, leads us, in

lify, and prate about philosophical distinctions, till they have rendered incomprehensible that which a child might understand; who would limit and circumscribe the power of the Omnipotent, and deny the perceptible effects of his agency, unless they can be made reducible to terms of human art, and plain to human

enter.

wise paths, to a place where sin and strife shall never Teach them to fear God and honour the king; to keep the commandments of God; to be sober and temperate; to be just and pay their debts; to speak well of their neighbours, and to think meanly of themselves; teach them charity, and learn them to be zealous of good works. .. . The kingdom of God consists in wisdom and righteousness, in peace and holiness, in meekness and gentleness, in chastity and purity, in abstinence from evil, and doing good to others. . . These things are profitable to men and pleasing to God." -JEREMY TAYLOR. Minister's Duty in Life and Doctrine.

"Let not a curate of souls trouble himself with any studies, but such which concern his own or his people's duty; such as may enable him to speak well, and to do well."-lbid. Rules and Advices to the

Clergy.