These Lectures, originally designed for this city, and subsequently preached in New Haven, by special desire of several clergymen of that place, are affectionately inscribed to the Young Gentlemen who attended their delivery, and at whose united request they are now published; with the fervent prayer of the author, that they may contribute to the virtue, respectability, and happiness of those, in whose present and future welfare he feels the warmest interest.

Hartford, April, 1828.

ADVERTISEMENT TO THE THIRD EDITION.

The Lecture on reading, was first addressed to the Mechanics' Society in this city, and subsequently to the young people belonging to the author's congregation. It is affixed to the third edition of this little volume, with the hope that it may add something to its value.

Hartford, May, 1829.

LECTURE I.

CLAIMS OF SOCIETY ON YOUNG MEN.

1 JOHN, ii. 14.

I HAVE WRITTEN UNTO YOU, YOUNG MEN, BECAUSE YE ARE STRONG.

WHEN Cataline attempted to overthrow the liberties of Rome, he began by corrupting the young men of the city, and forming them for deeds of daring and crime. In this, he acted with keen discernment of what constitutes the strength and safety of a community -the virtue and intelligence of its youth-especially of its young men. This class of persons, has, with much propriety, been denominated the flower of a country-the rising hope of the church and society. Whilst they are preserved uncorrupted, and come forward with enlightened minds and good morals, to act their respective parts on the stage of life, the foundations of social order and happiness are secure, and no weapon formed against the safety of the community can pros per.

This, indeed, is a truth so obvious, that all wise and benevolent men, whether statesmen, philanthropists, or ministers of religion, have always felt a deep and peculiar interest in this class of society; and in all attempts to produce reformation and advance human happiness, the young, and particularly young men, have engaged their first and chief regards.

How entirely this accords with the spirit of inspiration, it is needless to remark. Hardly any one trait of the Bible is more prominent than its benevolent concern for the youthful generations of men. On them its instructions drop as the rain and distil as the dew; around their path it pours its purest light and sweetest promises; and by every motive of kindness and entreaty, of invitation and warning, aims to form them for duty and happiness, for holiness and God.

It is, I trust, in the spirit of these senti ments, that I propose, in this and some following discourses, to address myself directly to the young men of this community. I feel that in doing so, I attempt a service for a most interesting portion of society; and while I shall aim, as is meet, to use great plainness of speech, I beg you, my friends,

to do me the justice to believe, that not a word or sentiment will be uttered, but with the sincerest desire for your present and everlasting happiness.

The subject proposed for present consideration, is the claims of society on young men. In illustrating this subject, I shall explain the nature of these claims-show how you are to be prepared to meet them-and enforce the duty by appropriate motives.

I. The claims, then, of which we speak, are of the most weighty and serious character. They grow out of those indissoluble reiations which you sustain to society; and those invaluable interests, social, civil, and religious, which have come down to us, a most precious inheritance, from our fathers, and which, with all the duties and responsibilities connected with them, are soon to be transferred to your hands and to your keeping. I look forward a few short years, and see the aspect of society entirely changed. The venerable fathers, who have borne the heat and burden of the day, are dropping, one after another into the grave, and soon they will all be gone. Of those too, who are now the acting members of society, some have passed the meridian of life, others are