upon them in their innocent pastimes—­to curdle their blood with severe rebukes, because of the buoyancy of their hearts and to drive them back with scowling reprimands, when they would walk in the sunny paths which God has kindly opened for their elastic footsteps.  Hence they close their ears to its invitations; turn away from its instructions, as something designed to impose a heavy yoke upon them; and postpone its claims, to be attended to among the last acts of life.

That these views and feelings should widely prevail, on a subject so important as religion, is a matter of deep regret.  They are erroneous and deleterious in the extreme.  Let the young strive to become acquainted with the true nature of the religion of Christ, and they will learn that such are not its requirements, nor its fruits.  It is not the purpose of its Divine Author to sadden the heart, or fill the mind with gloom; but to cheer and gladden the soul, and lead it to the highest and sweetest enjoyments of existence.  It is not the aim of religion to deprive the young of any real enjoyment—­any recreation proper to their age or their nature, as intellectual, moral, and spiritual beings.  But it would assist the young to distinguish between permanent happiness, and those hurtful and wicked gratifications which corrupt the heart, and plunge the whole being into the dark pool of sin and woe.  Religion is the friendly Guide sent from our Father in heaven, to lead his creatures away from peril and woe, and direct their footsteps into the most beautiful and happy paths of existence.

    “Through life’s bewildered way,
      Her hand unerring leads;
     And o’er the path her heavenly ray
      A cheering lustre sheds.”

What sight can present itself to the eye more pleasing than a religious youth.  By this I do not mean a gloomy, downcast, sorrowful young man, or young woman, whose countenance is overcast with shadows, and whose presence chills every beholder.  It is a darkened superstition, a cold, cheerless asceticism, and not the Christian religion, which gives this unnatural and forbidding appearance.  A religious youth is one who is cheerful and happy—­whose countenance is pervaded with an expression of benevolence, a smile of contentment—­who is constant in attendance on public worship—­who respects the Scriptures, and makes their daily perusal one of the fixed duties of life—­who loves God, and strives faithfully to keep his commandments—­who reverences the Saviour of man, and takes him as a pattern in all things—­who is honest, industrious, economical, and strictly temperate.  Behold the fair picture!  Is it not goodly to look upon?  Can earth furnish a spectacle more beautiful?  Such a youth is beloved of all men.  Angels, Christ, the Father, smile their approval on every one treading this high pathway