needful preparation?  Behold her, tossed to and fro by the angry waves.  All on board are in alarm!  The fierce winds drive her on, they know not whither.  Hark to that fearful roar!  It is the fatal breakers!  Hard up the helm!  Put the ship about!  See, on every hand frowns the fatal lee-shore!  Pull taught each rope—­spread every sail.  It is in vain!  Throw out the anchors!  Haste! strain every nerve!  Alas! It is all too late. The danger cannot be escaped.  On drifts the fated craft.  Now she mounts the crest of an angry wave, which hurries forward with its doomed burthen.  Now she dashes against the craggy points of massive rocks, and sinks into the raging deep.  One loud, terrific wail is heard, and all is silent!  On the rising of the morrow’s sun, the spectator beholds the beach and the neighboring waters strewn with broken masts, rent sails, and drifting fragments—­all that remains of the proud ship which yesterday floated so gaily on the ocean waters!!

Behold, O ye youthful, a picture of the fate of those who rush upon the career of life, without forethought or preparation, and without the light of well-selected moral principles to guide them.  All may appear fair and promising at the outset, and for a season.  But before many years can elapse, the prospects of such youth must be overclouded; and ere long disappointment, overthrow, disgrace and ruin, will be the closing scenes of a life, commenced in so much blindness.

“Well begun is half done,” was one of Dr. Franklin’s sound maxims.  A career well begun—­a life commenced properly, with wise forecast, with prudent rules of action, and under the influence of sound and pure, moral and religious principles—­is an advance, half-way at least, to ultimate success and prosperity.  Such a commencement will not, it is true, insure you against the misfortunes which are incident to earthly existence.  But if persevered in, it will guard you against the long catalogue of evils, vexatious penalties and wretchedness, which are the certain fruit of a life of immorality; and will bestow upon you all the real enjoyments, within the earthly reach of man.

As people advance in years, they perceive more and more the importance of commencing life properly.

See that wretched outcast!  Poor and miserable, shunned by all but depraved associates, he drags out the worthless remnant of his days.  Does he think he has acted wisely?  Hark to his soliloquy—­“Oh, could I begin life again:—­could I but live my days over once more—­how different the course I would pursue.  Instead of rushing on blindly and mindlessly, without forethought or care, and allowing myself to become an easy prey to temptation and sin, I would reflect maturely, and choose wisely the path for my footsteps.  Faithfully I would search for the way of virtue, honesty, sobriety, and goodness, and strictly would I walk therein!” The opportunity he so eagerly covets, and to obtain which he would deem no sacrifice too great, is now before every youth in the assembly.