The _advantages_ of early piety are innumerable. It is difficult to say how many dangers will be avoided, how many felicities attained! The profane youth, listening to the advice of evil counsellors, and indulging the worst propensities of his nature, plunges at once into pollution and misery. Health and peace, reputation and usefulness, are soon lost, but not easily regained. In some cases all are absolutely irrecoverable. The heart of a parent is filled with the most bitter anguish—the numbers of the wicked are increased, and their hands strengthened—good men are grieved and wounded—the holy name of God is dishonoured—and the immortal soul is swallowed up in the depths of hell! On the other hand, if, in early life, you seek after the God of Israel, the most delightful consequences may be justly expected. God will be glorified, and your everlasting happiness effectually secured. Indeed, the manner in which you conduct yourself where you now are, creates those hopes on the one hand, or fears on the other, which most materially affect the happiness of your best friends. Besides, you will long feel the effects of your present conduct. If you are now idle, quarrelsome, selfish, mean, and regardless of religion; whatever change of character you may experience afterwards, you will be found to have invited difficulties and pains, which will more or less embarrass and torture you to the latest period of life; while diligence, kindness, liberality, and the love of God, will shed on your path that light “which shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Thus will useful knowledge be stored up, and correction become unnecessary; your teachers will be well rewarded for their trouble, and your parents for all their cost: from school you will go into the scenes of business, and take your place among those, who, under Providence, are supplying the world with its comforts. But religion conveys you far beyond these mortal employments: the Almighty Saviour stretches forth his hand to lead you into eternity. And, Oh! what glorious instructions does he communicate along all the path! He speaks of the love of God, the life of faith, the joys of heaven; when it is needful, he reproves; nor does he fail to encourage; he administers truth, and, superior to all earthly teachers, he opens the understanding that it may receive it. But I must conclude. Accept kindly the information and advice which have now been given with much freedom, but equal cordiality, by A sincere, though unknown, FRIEND. * * * * * _London_: _Printed by_ A. APPLEGATH, _Stamford Street_, _for the_ RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY; _and sold by_ J. DAVIS, _at their Depository_, _No._ 56, _Paternoster Row_; _and by_ J. NISBET, _No._ 21, _Berners Street_, _Oxford Street_.