great measure the mind, and unfits it for useful action. It darts its electric fire of vengeance along the optic nerve, expands the retina, and gives to every object a magnified and false appearance, while the very eyeballs, by a wild and savage glare, proclaim the dreadful storm that is raging within, and pouring the poisonous streams of premature death through all the healthful channels of existence ! It suddenly braces the nervous system, and then on the opposite extreme leaves it depressed and weakened. It gradually brings on rheumatic complaints, and lays the whole system open to the most formidable and painful disorders, that afflict the human race. It cannot have escaped medical observation, that fevers and consumptions are much more frequent among persons who are very irritable, and exercise little or no rule over their passions, than among those who are of a mild temperament, either naturally, or from early restraint and education.

There is a connexion between the mind and the body, so subtile that it has hitherto eluded the eagle-eye of Physiology, and will perhaps remain inscrutable forever to human comprehension. But that this connexion exists is fully demonstrated by medical experience and observation. Many bodily disorders derange the mind, and have in many instances totally destroyed it. So, on the other hand, diseases of the mind affect the body

in return, and grief, despair, and melancholy have so preyed upon the vitals as to emaciate the body, and bring it to the grave. It is not un. common, that consumptions are brought on by trouble of mind, by guilt, and by melancholy and grief. And many instances have occurred, where persons in excessive violent anger have dropped down dead. What is so dreadful, when carried to extreme, must be very injurious to health, and long life, when indulged frequently and even moderately.

There being, then, such an intimate connexion between the mind and body, and so many thousands of ways in which one alternately acts upon, and affects, the other, and brings millions to an un timely grave, we see at once the propriety of not only guarding our health by temperance in eating and drinking, but more particularly by avoiding troubles of a mental character. These are generally brought upon individuals, families, and neighbourhoods, by the bad use of the tongue. Would you live long, that you may see good days? Then keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile; seek peace and pursue it. Avoid every species of iniquity that would have a tendency to blast your own or the peace of others. Avoid it as you would the poisonous exhalations of the Bohon Upas, and fly it as you would the dreadful Samiel of the Arabian desert.

SERMON XX.

ON LONGEVITY.

[Concluded.]

WE have shown in our last number, that the truth of this text is based upon philosophy, and verified by experience and observation; that nothing is more destructive to health and longevity than to indulge in the revengeful passions of our nature; and that constant fear, grief, and melancholy are also destructive to the human constitution, and withering to the dearest joys of life. We have shown that violent anger, revenge, and most of the malignant passions, originate from the bad use of the tongue; and that, if we would live long and see good, we must give heed to our ways by following the injunctions of the text. We now propose a further discussion of this subject, addressed particularly to the young.

A single spark of fire has often wrapped a city in conflagration. Great effects not unfrequently flow from small causes. The apostle James says, see chap. iii."Behold also the ships, which, though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet they are turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member and boast

eth great things. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea is tamed, and hath been tamed, of mankind. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly member, full of deadly poison." The apostle, in the above quotation, has reference to those who have so long indulged in evil speaking that it has become, as it were, an incurable habit. If any man makes a practice of slandering his neighbcurs, and disturbing the peace of the community, it is immaterial to what church he may belong, or what ostentatious professions he may make, he is, notwithstanding all this, destitute of Christianity.

It is a painful fact, that the religion of the present day is too much accommodated to the fashions and customs of the world. Let a man, for instance, use profane language, or get intoxicated, and he will readily be suspended from the communion of the church. But let him slander his

neighbours, and little or no notice is taken of his conduct. And let him slander other denominations, and it becomes, as it were, a virtue; whereas the fact is, that the latter, according to the book

of God, is much the greatest crime. It is therefore wise to lay, in early youth, a foundation for a tranquil, virtuous, and long life.

Thus you see, my young friends, that virtue and happiness, temperance, prosperity, and longevity, are inseparably connected by the Author of our being, who has made them to depend in a great measure upon our conduct. You have also seen, that sin and misery, intemperance in body, and also intemperance in mind, such as evil speaking, violent anger, commotions, griefs and troubles, and a premature grave, are likewise inseparably and wisely connected.

And now, my young friends, which will you. choose? If you love life and desire to see many days, let me exhort you to choose the former, and to drink freely out of that golden cup in which every earthly joy of unbroken felicity is mingled by the unerring hand of divine mercy; and let me warn you to reject the latter, for in it are mingled the bitter drugs of misery. Be temperate in eating and drinking. Be temperate in all your pursuits in life, and in all your desires. Be temperate in your conduct; and "pitch upon that course of life which is the most excellent, and habit will soon render it the most delightful." Avoid not only every word and action that may lead to discord and contention, but, as our text says, depart from evil and do good, seek peace,