CONTENTS.

faculty are on right principles. Their character is good. Public sentiment always in favour with the faculty. Illustrated. The student misses his aim in rebelling. The results of a rebellion are ruinous to some. How excitement is produced. A mistaken notion. Two reasons why a rebellion is so ruinous. The first reason. A great shock received. Difficult to recover. The second reason. Discipline of mind lost. Rebelling a dishonourable business. No need of it. Student's life one of trial.......

CHAPTER VIII.-EXERCISE.-DIET.-ECONOMY.

115

Who is

Why exercise is needed. Health everything to the student. Why this necessity is not felt. How the mind may be rapidly matured. A fashion in this country. Study must endanger health. a hero. The fatigue of study. We try to mature too soon. Difficulties which prevent exercise. First difficulty. Second difficulty. Third difficulty. The manual-labour system. Objections to it. The best exercise for the student. The fourth difficulty. How to meet this difficulty. Exercise must be regular. Must be agreeable. It should relax the mind. Exercise to be increased at particular times. Professional men. Illustrious men have laboured with the hands. Summary of the advantages of exercise. Mind strengthened by exercise. Confirmation. DIET. Students fickle on the subject. Hints on diet. Diet must correspond with exercise. Fasting. Effects of our habits. Regularity of diet. Simplicity in diet. Singular instance of one indulgence. Stimulating drinks. Bad effects upon the student. ECONOMY. Most of our students are indigent. Indigence no injury to a student. Advantages of indigence. Should not be ashamed of poverty. Be anxious to keep out of debt. What to do if debts are absolutely necessary. Not consult taste in purchases. Do not buy because the thing is cheap. Temptation of buying books. Form habits of economy for life. No mark of genius to be careless in regard to debts. Make your expenses a matter of

A designed omission. An early duty. Infidel notions. What sort of men are infidels? Testimony of one who had been an infidel. No safety in opinions if religious views are loose. The mind of an infidel cannot make much impression. Settle your religious views early. No one can be safe without fixed principles. A common prejudice among students. Religion exalts the mind. Means of disciplining the heart. First suggestion. Everything may contribute to it. Every event designed for moral discipline. Second suggestion. Cultivate the conscience. Use of a cultivated conscience. Illustrations. How the greatest efforts of the mind can be called forth. We must meet with temptations. They are constant. Examples of temptations. Third suggestion. Avoid temp

tation. Easily-besetting temptations. Companions. Conversation. Particular scasons. Particular associations. Vile reading. Little failings. Natural temperament. Beware of temptations to which you naturally incline. Fourth suggestion. Temper. Temper may be cultivated. Necessity of attending to the temper. Irritability of the temper. Fifth suggestion. Improvement of thoughts when alone. Cautions. Advantages of being alone. The future to be anticipated. Your own teacher. Study your own character. You will find deficiencies. Who are your flatterers? No other way but by meditation to correctly understand the Divine character. Sixth suggestion. Daily reading the word of God. Hints for reading the Bible. First hint. Second hint-translation to be used. The book of Proverbs. Third hint-disposition. Difficulties in reading the Scripture. Fourth hint-responsibility. Why you may not neglect the Scripture. Seventh suggestion. Faithful reviewing. Sickness. Changes in circumstances. Examination of the heart on a sabbath evening. A help suggested. Use of dreams on moral character. Review at night important. Effects of the evening review. Eighth suggestion. Daily prayer. Students especially need prayer. Excuse of having no time. Hints in regard to prayer. Regular hours. Morning and evening the best times for devotion. Examples of praying men. Conscience to be kept pure. Excuse of not being a Christian examined. Pray in Christ's name. Ask for the Holy Spirit.

CHAPTER X.-THE OBJECT OF LIFE.

151

Pictures of the imagination. Visions of good men. Our visions a test of character. The world under an immense mistake. Prostitution of mind unlamented. The hopes of each generation of men. The world left to sink. Who is great? Every one has an object. The appetites and passions. Seeking after wealth. Life of ambition. The vexations of the ambitious man. Admiration short-lived. Difficulties in sustaining a reputation. No one satisfied with his reputation. Restlessness of ambition. Character of fame. The worth of ambition imaginary. By expelling this principle we do not leave the heart empty. We need a high motive of action. What it is. A high standard is practicable. We have the power of selecting the object. What is duty. Testimony of reason. Testimony of conscience. Advantages of the true standard. The soul is filled. Engrosses the whole heart. Conquers sin. Leads to activity. Shows valuable results. No waste of efforts. Ensures the approbation of conscience. Obtains the approbation of the world. Obtains the approbation of Heaven. Feelings of an author on closing his book. How the reader is entreated to act. State of the world. Much depends on students. Circumstances in which we are called to act. Responsibility of our situation. Power of reaching men. The Bible the great instrument. Encouragements to action. Rewards of a life well spent. Conclusion.

181

Object of Study.-Sutroductory.

THE human mind is the brightest display of the power and skill of the Infinite mind, with which we are acquainted. It is created and placed in this world to be educated for a nigher state of existence. Here its faculties begin to unfold, and those mighty energies, which are to bear it forward to unending ages, begin to discover themselves. The object of training such a mind should be, to enable the soul to fulfil her duties well here, and to stand on high vantage-ground, when she leaves this cradle of her being, for an eternal existence beyond the grave.

There is now and then a youth, who, like Fergusson, can tend sheep in the field, and there accurately mark the position of the stars, with a thread and beads, and with his knife construct a watch from wood; but such instances are rare. Most need encouragement to sustain, instruction to aid, and directions to guide them. Few, probably, ever accomplish anything like as much as they expected or ought; and I have thought that one reason is, that students waste a vast amount of time in acquiring that experience which they need. As I look back upon the days when I was a "student," I can see that here I went wrong, and there I mistook; here I missed a golden opportunity, and there I acquired a wrong habit, or received a wrong bias ; and, as I sometimes walk past a college, as it is lighted up for evening study, I pause, and sigh, that I cannot go back and begin life again, carrying with me my present experience. I think too, I can see, that if there had been such a book as I am now attempting to write for students, put into my hands at an early period, it would have been of incalculable advantage to me. I have strong hopes of saying what will be useful, inas

2

EARLY CHARACTER INDELIBLE.

much as I shall principally draw from my own experience and from the remembrance of my own wants.

The reader will please to bear in mind, that the only object I have in view, is to be useful to him-to throw out such hints and cautions, and to give such specific directions, as will aid him to become all that the fond hopes of his friends anticipate, and all that his own heart ought to desire.

I would here say to the student, that the character which he now forms and sustains, will cling to him through life. Young men always receive impressions concerning each other which nothing can ever efface. The very nicknames which are given at this period, and which are generally indicative of some peculiar trait of character, will never be forgotten. His moral and intellectual character, while young, is that by which his classmates, especially, will invariably measure him through life. Is he unable now, or indolent now, or vicious now? Depend upon it, his character is stamped, and no subsequent years of good-nature, or of application, or of moral worth, can ever do away the impressions which he is now making. Ask any educated man about the character of his fellow, and you will notice, that he at once goes back to his college-life, and dates and judges from that period. Thus, every anecdote, every ludicrous circumstance, whether it was a mistake in reciting, or judgment, or in moral conduct, will be repeated over the land, and his frailties will be known as widely as his class is scattered.

No mistake can be more decided than that of supposing that you are now retired from the world, have no character to maintain, and no responsibility resting upon you. It is far otherwise. And it is peculiarly trying, that, during the very period when the character is forming, it is viewed by all around you as if it were already and unalterably formed, and judged of accordingly. He who now sits by your side in the recitationroom, has every trait of your character exposed to his view; and he will remember every trait, and he will mark you through life, at the place where you now stand. Never, in fact, does so great a responsibility rest upon you as while a student, because you are now forming your character and habits, and setting your standard; and because, also, your contemporaries will seldom, if ever, alter their judgment concerning you. If you are stupid and inaccurate during this period, though you should hereafter write dictionaries, and edit classics, and dream in foreign languages, I very much doubt whether your friend, now at your elbow, would ever give you credit for anything higher than dulness.

Doubtless, multitudes are now in the process of education,