this world, partly for those of the

next.

2 Let each of these occupys in the distribution of our time, that space which properly belongs to it. Let not the hours of hospitality 5 and pleasure interfere with the discharge of our necessary affairs; and Jet not what we call necessary affairs encroach6 upon the time that is due to devotion. To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. If we delay till to-morrow what ought to be done to-day, we overcharger the morrow with a burden which belongs not to it.

3 We load the wheels of time and prevent them from carrying us along smoothly. He, who every morning plans the transactions of the day and follows out that plan, carries on a thread which will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life.

4 The orderly arrangement of his time is like a ray of light, which darts itself through all his affairs. But, where no plan is laid, where the disposalt of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidents, 2 all things lie huddled together in one chaos, which admits neither of distribution nor review.

"5 The first requisite for introdu

But

cing order into the management of
time is to be impressed with a just
sense of its value. Let us consider
well how much depends upon it, and
how fast it flies away. The bulk of
men are in nothing more capricious4
and inconsistent, than in their ap-
preciations of time. When they
think of it, as the measure of their
continuance on earth, they highly
prize it, and with the greatest anx-
iety6 seek to lengthen it out.
when they view it in separate par-
cels,7 they appear to hold it in con-
tempt, and squander it with incon-
siderate profusion.8 While they
complain that life is short, they are
often wishing its different periods at
an end. Covetous of every other
possession, of time only they are
prodigal.9 They allow every idie
man to be master of this property,
and make every frivolous occupa-
tiont welcome that can help them to
consume it.

6 Among those who are so careless of time, it is not to be expected that order should be observed in its distribution.2 But, by this fatal neglect, how many materials3 of severe and lasting regret are they laying up in store for themselves! The time, which they suffer to pass away in the midst of confusion, 4

:

bitier repentance seeks afterwards in vain to recal.

7 What was omitted to be done at its proper moment, arises to the torment of some future season. Manhood is disgraced by the consequences of neglected youth. Old age, oppressed6 by the cares that belonged to a former period, labors under a burthen not its own. At the close of life, the dying man bebolds with anguish that his days are finishing, when his preparation7 for eternity is hardly commenced.

8 Such are the effects of a disorderly8 waste of time, through not attending to its value. Every thing in the life of such persons is misplaced. Nothing is performed aright, from not being performed in due

season.

7

9 But he who is orderly in the distribution of his time, takes the propar method of escaping those manifold9 evils. He is justly said to redeem the time. By proper management he prolongst it. He lives much in little space; more in a few years than others do in many. He can live to God and his own soul, aal at the same time attend to all the lawful interests of the present world. He looks back on the past and provides for the future."

2 Interests, s effects, con

hours as they fly. They are mark ed down for useful purposes and their memory remains. Whereas, those hours flect by the man of confusion like a shadow. His days and years are either blanks of which he has no remembrance,4 or they are filled up with such a confused and irregular successions of unfinished transactions, 6 that tho he remembers he has been busy yet he can give no account of the business7 which has employed him.

The mortifications of Vice greater than those of Virtue.

1. Though no condition of human life is force from uneasines, yet it must be allowed that the uncasiness belonging to a sinfukfourse, is far greater than what attends a course of welt doing. If we are weary of the laborss of virtue, we may be assured, that the world, whenever we try the exchange, will lay upon us a much heavier load. It is the outside only, of a licentious4 life, which is gay and smiling. Within, it conceals toif and trouble, and deadly sorrow. For vice poisons5 human happiness

f

4 Remem brance, s recol lection.

5 Succession,s rightful inheritance.

6 Transactions s negotiations,

managements.

7 Business; 6. occupation.

+ Condition, e terms of agree

ment

2 Greater, a larger. 3-Labor, work.

4 Licentious, a presumptuous, unrestrained.

5 Poison, 10 infect or kill with poison.

in the spring, by introducing disor

- der into the heart.

2. Those passions which it seems to indulge, it only feeds with imperfect gratifications;6 and thereby strengthens them for preying, in the end, on their unhappy victims.7

It is a great mistake to imagine that the pain of self-denial is confined to virtue. Ile who follows the world, as much as he follows "Christ, must "take up his cross;" and to him assuredly, it will prove a more oppressives burden. Vice9 allows all our passions to range uncontrolled ; and where each claims to be superior, 2 it is impossible to gratify all.

6 Gratification • pleasure.

7 Victims, s sacrifices.

8 Oppressive, a

cruel, over-
whelming,

9 Vice, a op

posite to virtue

+ Uncontrolled

part not controlled.

2 Superior, a greater, higher

3 Predominant a prevalent, 4 Mortification

humiliation,

3. The predominants desire can ouly be indulged at the expense of its rival. No mortifications4 which virtue exacts are more severe than those which ambition imposes upon the love of ease, pride upon interest, and covetousness upon vanity. Self denial, therefore, belongs in common, to vice and virtue :5 but 5 Virtue, 3 mowith this remarkable, difference, ral goodness, that the passions which virtue requires us to mortify, it tends to weaken ;* whereas, those which vice obliges us to deny, it at the same time strengthens.

4. The one diminishes the pain

:

Weaken, or to make weak, enfeeble, injure,