The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-05-21
MORAL.
ON THE DUTIES OF THE YOUNG

i ~ AAh ~ ACfO vi u hE AOOlNO
"Piety to God is the foundation of good
morals, and is disposition particularly
graceful and becoming in youth. To
be void of II, argues cold heart desti-
tute OF some of the best affections which
belong to that age. Youth is the season
Of warm and generous emotions The
heart should then, spontaneously, rise in
to admiration OF what is great--giow with
The love Of what is fair and excellent, and
melt az The discovery OF tenderness and
goodness. Where can any object be found
so proper to kindle those affections, as
he Father of the Universe, and the au-
thor of all felicity Unmoved by venera.
ton, can you contemplate that grandeur
and majesty, Which his works every
where display F? Untouched by gratitude
can you view that profusion of good,
which, in this pleasing season oflifc, His
beneficent hand pours around you Hap
py in the love and affection Of those with
whom you are connected, look up to the
Supreme Being as the inspirer of all
friendship which has ever been shewp
you by others Himself, your best and
first friend ; formerly, the supporter of
your infancy. and the guide of your child.
hood now, the guardian of your youth,
and the hope OF your coming years.
View religious homage. as natural ex-
preston of gratitude to Him for all His
goodness. Connected with SO mapy
tender seDsibilities of the soul, let reli-
gion be with you, not the cold and bar
rem offspring of speculation, but the
warm and vigorous dictate of the heart.
But though piety chiefly belongs to the
heart, yet the aid Of the understanding is
requisite, to give proper direction to
the devout affections. You must endea.
vou', therefore to acquire just views both
Of the great PRINCIPLES of natural religion
and of The peculiar doctrines of the gos.
pei. For this end study the Sacred
Scriptures. Consult the word oil God.
more than the systems of men, if you
would know the truth in its native purity
When, upon rational and sober inquiry.
YOU have established your principles.
suffer them not to be shaken by the SCOTS
oflhe licentious, or the caviIs of the scep.
Gcal. Remember, that in the examina.
ii,h of every great and comprehensive
pan, such as that Of Christianity, difficult
ties may be expected to occur and that
reasonable evidence is not to be rejected
because the nature Of our present state
allows us only to know in part, and see
through glass darkly.
empress your mind with reverence for
all that is sacred. Let no wantonness of
youthful spirits, no compliance with the
Incorporate mirth of others, ever betray
you into profane sallies. Besides the
guilt which is thereby incurred, nothing
gives more odious appearance of petu-
lance and presumption TO youth than the
affectation oftreating religion with leyity
Instead of being an vidence Of superior
understanding, it discovers pert and
shallow mind which, vain Of the first
smatteriDgs of knowledge, presumes to
make light Of what the rest of mankind
revere. At the same time you are not to
imagine, that when exhorted TO be reli-
gious,you are called upon to become more
formal and solemn in your manners than
others ofthe same years, or to erect your
selves into supercilious reprovers of those
around you. The spirit of tEue religion
breathes SentIeness and afability. 1t
gives native, unaffected ease to the be-
hayiour. 1t is social, kind, and cheerful,
far removed from that gloomy and iIlibe-
raj superstition, whish clouds the brow,
sharpens the temper, defects the spirits,
and teaches men to fit themselves for ano.
Their world, by neglecting the concerns Of
this. Let your religion, on the contrary,
connect preparation for heaven, with an