the good. The habits of vice are much more strongly fixed in the former, than the habits of virtue in the latter: and, where two forces of different degrees of strength are brought into contest, the weaker must yield to the stronger. It is matter of prudence to avoid the company of persons confirmed in vice, as being dangerous to those who associate with them, and also because such characters are incapable of receiving benefit. But young offenders are not so incorrigible. The seeds of virtue still remain in their minds, and may yet be made to spring forth by proper treatment; nor can any thing be more effectual for this purpose than the society of good men, who may teach them what is right, and by kindness and persuasion induce them to practise it. To withdraw from them immediately is to leave them in the hands of their wicked companions, and by an appearance of severity and harshness may drive them still farther from their duty. Tenderness and compassion toward offenders are often the best means of reclaiming them, while a different treatment only hastens their progress in the paths of wickedness.

The anxiety, which some persons discover to avoid the company of sinners, proceeds not so much from a love of virtue and a desire to discountenance vice, as from an affectation of nice feeling, which the least deviation from the path of virtue offends. A truly genuine and enlightened zeal for the recovery of virtue and innocence, where they have been lost, would lead them to acts of kindness rather than of

severity; or, if they produced a temporary estrangement in order to mark their displeasure at vice, would soon induce them to return into the usual channel of kind offices. The heart of man yields to kindness and persuasion; but is hardened by rough treatment. From the whole of what has been said upon this last head of discourse we are to conclude, that our conduct toward those, who offend against the rules of morality, must be determined by the nature of the case. If the offence be of a light nature, it ought to receive some mark of displeasure by reproof, remonstrance, and a temporary withdrawing from the company of the offender; if of a more heinous nature, that displeasure ought to be more strongly expressed by withdrawing for a longer time, although not perhaps entirely, whilst there is hope of reformation; but where it is in itself so enormous, or so often repeated, as to discover strong habits of vice, it is our duty to abandon the offender wholly and for ever; for he is not likely to be reclaimed, and our own virtue, instead of producing any good in him, is likely to be itself contaminated.

We have now seen what our duty is in respect to keeping company with the wicked, and upon what grounds our duty is founded. Let us henceforth be careful to practise it, which however is not so easy a matter, and requires all the resolution and fortitude which we can exert.

Is there any one, then, of your friends or acquaintance, who habitually violates some plain and

obvious duty? is he often intoxicated with liquor, and addicted to drunkenness? does he ever violate the rules, which the Christian religion and the common good have established for the mutual intercourse of the sexes? does he waste his substance in riotous liv ing? does he spend his time in idleness, leaving his family unprovided for, and contract debts, which he is not able to discharge? does he show a disre gard to truth by lying? has he betrayed a trust com mitted to him, or is he dishonest in his dealings? is there any of your acquaintance, who has been guilty of all or any one of these offences? Forsake his company; associate with him no longer; make him not your familiar friend. First remonstrate with him in the plainest terms, and in the most affectionate manner, upon the guilt and danger of his conduct: if remonstrances prove successful, you have gained your brother, but if he still persist in the same vicious course, break off all connection with him immediately. He may be endeared to you by the ties of blood or kindred, by many years acquaintance, by long intercourse, by many amiable qualities and shining accomplishments; but these considerations ought to have no weight with you, when placed in competition with your own virtue and peace. A regard to your own safety, as well as to the public good and to the welfare of the individual, require from you this sacrifice. The experience of past ages, confirmed by the observation of every day, has shown that men's characters are formed by their con

nections. Hence the maxim,

"show me the com

pany a man keeps, and I will tell you his character." And Solomon says, "Can a man touch pitch, and not be defiled? can he take coals into his bosom, and not be burnt?"

In order to induce you to continue with him and to imitate his conduct, he may talk to you of the pleasures he enjoys from indulging his passions, and setting himself free from all restraint; he may boast of the number of his friends and of the gains of his evil practices, and press you to come and partake of the booty but listen not to his voice; it is not the voice of a friend, but the insidious proposal of an enemy; he wants to sanction his own folly by the authority of your example, and to cover his own disgrace by involving you in it. Be assured from the experience of mankind and the language of Scripture, that vice and misery are inseparably connected together: it is an invariable law of nature, that he, who indulges himself in the one, must ex"Wherefore, my son, if sinperience the other. ners entice thee, consent thou not; walk not in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."

I would press this advice with particular earnestness upon my young friends. Your danger is great; your manners and habits are yet unformed, and will easily take a cast from those, with whom you associate, and whom you make your familiar friends. You

are at present not sufficiently aware of the force of example, and may, therefore, receive from it irreparable injury before you perceive your danger. Take the advice of those of more advanced life, who know it's influencé and have seen some of it's dreadful effects, if you pay any regard to their opinion. There never was a time, when it was more necessary to guard you against the danger of evil company than the present moment. The more freely men associate together, the more likely are they to be seduced by bad example. Be very careful whom you first choose for your companions, and whom you continue in that number. If any one of your acquaintance appear to be addicted to any species of vice, avoid his company, cultivate no intercourse with him. He is a dangerous person, whom you cannot approach without being injured. If any one, who once appeared to be virtuous, and with whom you have been accustomed to associate, should decliné from the path of virtue,' warn him with the sincerity and earnestness of a friend of the danger which awaits him, and declare plainly, that, great as is your regard for him, attention to your own safety will require you to forsake him. If notwithstanding your warnings and reproofs he still persevere in the same wicked way, you have but one step more to take, and about which you ought not to hesitate a moment, and that is to break off all intercourse with him for ever.

Let

persons of

every age and every condition re