Covetoufness indeed, hateful and despicable as it is in the Elder, would be fomewhat worse in them: but all is not Covetousness, that they are apt to call fo: and Extravagance is a Mark only of Folly, not of Generofity, or Good-nature. They, who fquander needlefly at fome Times, will be driven to fpare improperly at others, when they should have been bountiful: and so will make a truly mean Figure, because they would needs make a falfly great one. Then, if their Profufenefs rife to any Height, it creates them great Uneafinefs with their Parents and Friends: whom it always fills with Fears about them, and frequently ftraitens and diftreffes it occafions (as they must run in Debt) Difficulties and Loffes, oftentimes. Ruin, to those with whom they have Dealings; and usually to fuch of them as deferve it least they must bring themselves into continual Perplexities: they will of Courfe be tempted, either to drown the Sense of them by Intemperance, or to aim at getting out of them by dishonest Arts and Methods, of one Kind or another; yet probably in vain. And if they come to have Families, they will in all Likelihood utterly undo thofe, who ought to have been the Object of their tenderest Love

and

and Care.

Remember therefore to fet out cautiously: confider well, that to rife in your Way of Living is very eafy; but to lower it, one of the hardest Things in the World: and lay it down for a Rule, that no Income whatever can support Negligence and Expenfivenefs.

1

II. The eleventh Proof, which young Perfons should give of a fober and reasonable Mind is to fix upon, and keep closely to, fome fit Manner of spending their Time. For none of it is given us to be thrown away: and unlefs they apply early to what they ought, a Habit of Idleness will foon take firm Poffeffion of them. To those of lower Rank, Neceffity reads the daily Leffon of Industry: it will make their Condition comfortable and reputable: and if they think of being maintained at their Ease, they are infallibly ruined, Body and Soul. But whatever Rank we are of; without fome Employment, Life must be tedious and unless proper Employment be chofen to fill up the empty Spaces of it, grofs Imprudences and Sins will be crowding into them. Or if the Idle could avoid these, yet surely it is bad enough, that they cannot avoid making a despicable Figure in the World; that their Inattention, which will gradually produce an Incapacity of

con

conducting their own Affairs, must subject them to an abfolute Dependance upon others, who may impofe upon them without Fear, to their great Prejudice, in more Ways than one. And befides, how painful will the Reflection be to you, (if ever you have any Reflection) what happy Circumftances you might have been in, what an honourable Appearance you might have made, had it not been for this contemptible Quality! But a ftill more alarming Thought is, that thofe Abilities and Opportunities of improving yourselves, and being useful to your Fellow-creatures, which God hath bestowed on you, he will hereafter call you to answer for: and he hath warned you before-hand, that the unprofitable and flothful Servant, who hath bid his Talent in the Earth, fhall be caft into outer Darknessa.

All People therefore, and the Young efpecially, fhould keep themfelves, not only employed, but employed to good Purpose. Both their Friends and they fhould be very careful, not to direct their Aim to a wrong Point: for there are unhappy Mistakes of this Kind. Such Things are frequently made the Study and Business of Life, as thofe who employ d Matth. xxv. 25, 26, 30.

them

themselves in them had much better know nothing of; at leaft can be little the better for knowing ever fo well. But they take up a groundless Fancy of their own, or follow a weak Judgment or filly Example of another ; fet their whole Hearts on gaining a Reputation in fome errant Trifle; and fo, with great Pains, become very accomplished, and good for nothing. Not that flighter Accomplishments, if they be real and fuitable to our Station, are to be overlooked: or Beginners in Life to be feverely blamed, if they do place a little higher Value on fuch Matters than they deserve. But much Care should be taken by those about them, and still more by themfelves, (for who is fo nearly interested?) that Occupations of mere Amusement do not fill up too much of their Thoughts or Time. Perhaps they are very innocent, perhaps they are very elegant: and therefore even the welldisposed, amongst others, indulge their Inclinations for them without Scruple. But ftill there is an effential Difference between Things of Entertainment only, and Things of Use: and young People fhould be formed, as foon as poffible, to attend to this Difference; and fhould always remember, that the Subjects

for their Minds to dwell upon, the Employments for their Days to be spent in, are partly the particular ones, that belong to the feveral Situations, in which they are now, or probably will be placed; partly the general ones, of improving their Understandings in proper Knowledge, but above all, their Hearts in the Love of God and their Duty: and to throw Life other Pursuits to the Prejudice of these, is not only an Imprudence, productive of great Inconveniencies in this World; but a Sin, juftly liable to Punishment in another.

away

upon

12. And lastly, one Inftance more of Sɔbriety of Mind, which ought to be facredly regarded by the Young, is preferving and expreffing a due Efteem and Reverence of fuch as are farther advanced in Years. It is true, the natural Temper of the two Extremes of Life is very different: but Providence hath kindly mixed them together in Society, for mutual Benefit. Undoubtedly the Aged are subject to Imperfections and Faults: yet probably you often accuse them unjustly: or if not, have not you Imperfections and Faults too, upon the whole more justly disagreeable to them, than theirs are to you? Still these ought