heavy heart the important question: " What will become of all these who are dear tome?" A similar inquiry forces itself upon me in regard to the youthful readers of these pages. And in regard to you, who are perusing this chapter, I ask myself whether you, well meaning as you are at present, will always remain virtuous, be happy, and get to heaven at last.
I cannot tell; I can only wish it with all my heart. But one thing I do know, that it will go well with you, and that you will in all probability save your soul, if you embrace the state of life for which you are destined by God.
Therefore it is incumbent on me to do everything in my power in order to help you to make a wise choice. Therefore lay well to heart the good advice which I am now about to offer you, in view of such a choice.
2. My first piece of advice is: take counsel of yourself. But you must do this calmly, without prejudice. Your heart should resemble a delicately balanced pair of scales; you must weigh all things fairly. You must not try to discover where and how you can most speedily grow rich and enjoy the vanities and amusements of the world. A young man who should take counsel of himself in such a fashion as this, and look at things from a purely material point of view, without reference to God and to his eternal salvation, would be greatly in danger of making a bad
