ed you
in this life, in order that you may, by acting well your part
here, be qualified for everlasting happiness hereafter--Can you
expect that happiness, if instead of attending places of divine
worship, there to pray for his holy aid, you spend the Sabbath,
as well as much of the other parts of your time, in rolicking,
drinking, or other evil practices, which destroy your own
comfort, give cause of offense to your neighbours, and above all
greatly displease that all-seeing God, before whom you must
appear to give an account for all your conduct? Let us prevail
upon you to refrain from the use of spirituous liquors, which
have occasioned misery to thousands--from gaming, a vice which
will bring poverty upon your families, and from frolicking and
amusements, which lead to idleness and expence; these habits of
dissipation, can in no wise add to your comfort. Be industrious,
diligent in your business, frugal in your expences, and endeavour
to lay up part of your earnings against a time of need. Some of
you can read, such know the advantages of it; you who cannot,
strive to acquire that knowledge.--Surely this knowledge is an
object of great importance, were it only for the opportunity it
affords of becoming acquainted with that best of books, the
Bible. The holy Scriptures of the old and new testament, contain
invaluable treasures of instruction, and of comfort. It would
give us much satisfaction, could we oftener see them in the hands
of those who are able to read them, and that an increasing
anxiety to become possessed of their contents, and to profit by
their precepts, might be more and more observable among you.

Very much depends upon the right education of your children,
endeavour to have them brought up to labour, and taught to read
and write; early place them apprentice with suitable masters, and
whether they be tradesmen or farmers, be always particularly
careful to prefer such, as by their example, will encourage them
in industry and sobriety.

In all your dealings be just and honest, give no cause of offence
to any, and if any dispute, either among yourselves, or with
others, should unhappily arise, in which you find difficulty,
apply to such persons in your neighborhoods as you know to be
your friends, and able to give you ad