You know it is common, at particular seasons of the year, for persons engaged in business to look over their accounts, and see how they stand. Now this is wise and useful, even though it concerns only the things of the world. But there is another account to settle vastly more important, and which all of us are very apt to neglect,-I mean our account with GOD. This account has been running on for a number of years, and the charges against us are very many and very great. Perhaps this is one reason why we put off a settleWe are afraid to meet it. But is this wise? Does

ment.

it lessen our danger by shutting our eyes as it comes nearer and nearer? Is it not rather the part of wisdom to keep awake to our danger, and be like a sentinel at his post, always on the look out, and prepared for the first approach of an enemy?

Did you ever hear of Mr. Dickinson, a good minister of Waterford, in England? His death was a very striking illus

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tration of the passage, "Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh." He had just commenced preaching his sermon one Sabbath day, and taken for his text, the words, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,”—when, after speaking a few sentences, he fell back in the pulpit, and instantly expired! He was a good man, and kept his accounts with. GOD settled every day, so that when his Master called him to the reckoning, he was ready, and heard the joyful sound, "Come up hither."

My young friends, allow me to ask; How Is YOUR ACCOUNT WITH GOD? Have I not reason to fear, that, with regard to some of you, nothing has been done to see how things stand with your Maker. With many, perhaps, the examination has been very imperfect-very superficial. Now, fearing this, as a faithful watchman, I come to you in the way of warning, and affectionate admonition. I should be unworthy of the post which your friends have assigned me, if I saw you in any danger, and did not give you timely notice. And neither your teachers nor myself, can ever hope to succeed in arousing you to a sense of your danger, unless we bring home to you each one of you-your personal guilt—unless we proclaim to you your certain ruin, if you do not, while you may, secure the friendship and favor of God.

Can you, my young friends, expect happiness, if you are disturbed in your own bosoms, and have God for your enemy? It cannot be. I will then ask you to look into the books of memory and conscience, and faithfully make out an account of sins and follies on the one side, and mercies and forbearance on the other, and see whether you can fairly expect the future to be to you happier than the past, if your THOUGHTS, your WORDS, and your ACTIONS, are not of a purer and more heavenly character, than they have ever yet been?

It will be always a matter of fact, that "a tree shall be known by its fruits." If you hear a youth using profane lan

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guage, lightly speaking that name which angels pronounce with reverence, can you believe, for a moment, that youth loves GOD?

If you see another trifling and wasting the hours of God's holy day, neglecting the Bible, the Sabbath school, and the house of prayer, can you believe, for a moment, that youth loves GOD?

And so, in other particulars, you can easily judge, by comparing things together, where the truth lies; and if you can do this about your neighbor, you certainly can do it in your own case—and even better;—for here you have the advantage of looking into your very heart, and discovering all the motives which influence you-and which, in the case of your neighbor, are almost entirely concealed.

The present is the most interesting and important period with each of you. Opportunity" has been called "the flower of time." What a golden opportunity' is youth! And what precious fruit may be expected when the blossom of love is fanned and watered by the Spirit of GOD!

Cultivate, then, my dear young friends, LOVE TO GOD, as your first and grand duty. Let no day pass without thanking this great and good BEING, for creating and preserving you; for giving you so many earthly comforts; and especially for giving his well-beloved Son to die for your sins, and open a way, in which he can consistently pardon and bless you, if you repent and abandon your sins, and believe in CHRIST.

Let no day pass without reading some portion of that Book of books, the HOLY BIBLE, which contains all that it is important for you to know, in order to be useful and happy while you live-quiet, resigned, and happy when you die-and unspeakably and for ever happy in the world of glory.

If you thus love GoD and his word, you will be dutiful and affectionate children-kind and obliging brothers and sisters -attentive and industrious scholars-faithful friends-and finally, useful members of society, and ornaments of the

church, when your parents' dust may be slumbering in the ground.

It is a source of the highest pleasure to me, when I remember that I address some scholars, who have found religion's

ways to be ways of pleasantness," and are making steady advances in the path to heaven. To such I have only to say, "Be not weary in well doing." Still trust in the same SAVIOUR, whom you have professed to love; keep the world under your feet, and heaven constantly in view. Live to be more and more useful. Let the world be the better for your having lived in it. Proclaim the gospel to all around you, by leading holy lives, and being fruitful in every good word and work. The Master you serve is faithful to all his promisesand when you have finished your appointed term on earth, he will receive you to the inheritance above, and put you in possession of an unfading crown, the purchase and reward of a SAVIOUR'S merits.

And, in conclusion, WHY MAY NOT THIS BRIGHT CROWN ENCIRCLE THE HEAD OF EVERY MEMBER OF THIS SCHOOL?

It is the sincere desire of GOD, that every human being should be happy. If any of you are otherwise, you can never charge GoD with want of love towards you. He has done all that infinite kindness can do, consistent with his character, to save you from ruin, and fit you for immortal glory. O do not, my young friends, cast away so precious a pearl as your never-dying soul. Think, O think, where it is to be thousands and millions of years hence; and remember that you now have the power in your own hands, of placing a seal on your character, which will show that you are the friend of God, and fitted for the happiness he has prepared through eternity, for all who love him.

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The Old Ladies' Class.

THE OLD LADIES' CLASS.

Он, yes! I seem to see it now-that class of old ladies, as one by one, with feeble step and bowed form, they entered the parsonage pew, in that old meeting-house. The wife of the venerable pastor, who for nearly forty years had broken to them the bread of life, sat at its head.

How her soul seemed imbued with the spirit of the Holy Book over which she was bending. Next to her sat old Mrs. C―, who, with the aid of her little tin trumpet, endeavored to catch each syllable uttered by the low, sweet voice of the teacher.

Then there was good old grandma'am L- over whose head had passed the snows of fourscore winters. She was beloved by all who knew her. She was every body's grandma'am, and was known by no other name.

Mrs. B, Mrs. D-, and Mrs. M-, made up the class. They had all arrived at that age when "the strong bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened."

Almost all their lives they had "known the Holy Scriptures which were making them wise unto salvation." Yet they deemed it not enough, but would descend into the grave with the word of God in their hearts, and on their tongues.

The old meeting-house is gone now,-and that parsonage pew, around which so many tender recollections cluster, has been demolished, and that class, most of them, are numbered with the dead. But their example still lives.

The Sabbath school was held during the intermission, and as the intermission was never more than an hour and a half, those who lived at a distance, must forego their dinner, or the Sabbath school. Some had thought they could not give up their hot dinner on the Sabbath. Others needed their cup of tea to keep them awake during the exercises of the afternoon. But who needed a cup of tea, or a warm din

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