LECTURE IV. FORMATION OF CHARACTER Life is for a Purpose-A useless Life-What is Character ?-Character Self-made -Duty of Parents-Chance Character always Evil-Choice of Vice or Virtue open to all-Will or Circumstance Clothe the Mind-Goodness the only Source of Happiness-Character is "catching"-Inter-relation of Minds-Power of silent Influence-Way to do Good to the World-Molding Immortal MindsEvery One can be a Benefactor-All intended to be Happy-A vicious Course one of Difficulty-Vice respects Virtue-Character the Soul's HabilimentCharacter Eternal... Page 52 LECTURE V. CHOICE OF AVOCATION, AND PERSEVERANCE Man must Live for both Body and Mind-Temporal and Spiritual Interests not at War-Every One should have a useful Pursuit-Special Training for the Avocation-Pursuit adapted to Capacity and Taste-No Settled Business promotes Vice-What Perseverance has done-The Great in Mind are Laborious -Industry a Passport to Greatness-Friends and Success attend the DiligentMental and Physical Labor give Power-Nature a Scene of Labor-If you would be seen, Shine-Real Good on the Mountain-top-Idle Genius Unsuccessful-Brain, and Hand, and Nerve must Work-Life in Earnest........ LECTURE VI. HEALTH. 78 Health the Foundation of all Successful Action-Bright Stars oftenest EclipsedHealth a Binding Duty-Omniscience of the Eye-Omnipotence of the Hand -Disease makes Man a Blank-Natural Death Rare-Disease a Penalty, not a Curse-Health a Duty to Friends and to God-We Daily Sin against Ourselves -Prevention the Best Doctor-All Else rather than Health Studied-Disease Disgraceful-Ignorance the Mother of Disease-Youth the Hope of the World -How to Preserve Health LECTURE VII. TEMPERANCE. 90 ▲ Deceitful Sea of Pleasure-Danger unconsciously Near-Elements of Intemperance within Us-Save the Image of God from Blight-Bodily Pains preach Temperance-What is Intemperance-A Personal Test of IntemperanceAppetite, a Voice of Warning-Drunkards not the only Intemperate-Rich Tables the Bane of Temperance-Little Roots support the Main Trunk-Youth, the Seed-ground of Wheat or Tares-Ultimate Effects of Temperance 106 Laughter is Purely Human-Conflicting Opinions on Amuseinens-Importance of a Right Decision-Amusement a Natural Instinct-Nature a Great and Just Teacher-Why does Man crave Amusement?-Mirthfulness a Primitive Faculty-Hilarity promotes Health-Quality of Amusements-Excess a Source of Dissipation-Exciting Amusements Dangerous-Proper Amusement Spiritual Enjoyment-Amusement should blend with Duty-Home the chief Scene of Amusement-Foreign Amusements Unsafe-Amusement removes Care and Sorrow-Labor and Recreation should not Conflict-Home made Happy by Amusements..... ...Page 119 LECTURE IX. MUSIC. What Music really is-Power and Influence of Music-The Soul Baptized in Music-Music a Universal Language-The Harmony of the Universe-Music is the Voice of Love-Music the Voice of Worship-Cultivation of MusicMusic a Spiritualizer-Prostitution of Music-Music an Essential of Educa 187 tion LECTURE X. CHASTITY OF LANGUAGE. Mind, the fountain of Happiness and Misery-Creation, the Embodied Thought of God-Power and Dignity of Language-Charm of Pure Language-Groveling Minds employ Vulgar Words-Home, the place for Pure Speech-Home, the School of Life-Simplicity, the Beauty of Speech-By-words Vulgar-By-words Senseless-Profane Swearing-Evils of Profanity-Quaker Anecdote-Pure Dress of Thought 148 LECTURE XI. CULTIVATION OF THE INTELLECT. General Adoration of Intellectual Capacity-Creative Power of Intellect-Uncultivated Intellect has few Pleasures-Cultivated Intellect Grasps the UniverseGeniuses of the Past-Mind Immortal-Mental Culture Progressive-Culture gives Power to do Good-Knowledge is Power-How shall the Poor be Educated-Poverty a Mental Stimulant-The Wil: 's the Way-Poverty, a good Schoolmaster-Glory of Cultivated Intellect 162 CULTIVATION OF THE MORAL SENTIMENTS. Moral Sentiments, the Imperial Crown of the Human Soul-Moral Culture necessary-Immortality, the Glory of Man's Being-Alliance of Man with his Maker-Adversity Fortifies the Soul-Moral Force, the Fruit of Trial-The Storms and Trials of Life-Moral Power Invulnerable-The Five Moral Jewels-Veneration-Link between God and Man-Benevolence-Power and Scope of Benevolence-Conscientiousness-Hope-Fraternity of the Moral Affections-Faith, or Spiritual Light-Result of Moral Culture LECTURE XIII. .. Page 176 ....... CULTIVATION OF THE AFFECTIONS. Man's Sympathy with the Sentient Universe-Affection, the Motive Force of the Soul-Power of the Affections-Charm of Reciprocity-Omnipotence of LoveHow to Cultivate the Affections-Moral Worth the Basis of enduring LoveReverence for Moral Purity-Reason and Will, the Guide of Affection-Filial Affection-Trust only those who Love their Parents-Fraternal Affection-Love of Country-Universality of Home-Love-Patriotism-Philanthropy-Universal Brotherhood LECTURE XIV. COURTSHIP. 194 The Season of Courtship the most Important part of Life-Too Serious a Matter for a Joke-Why Marriage is a Lottery-Superficial Courtship-Marriage Reveals the True Character-Love Character, not Person merely-Feeling, not Reason, leads astray-True Object of Courtship-Proper Age to Select Companions-Childish Courtships unsafe-Evils of Premature Marriages-False Ideas of Married Life-Proper Age to Marry-A Companion without a CharacterWhat is a Companion?-Courtship should Reveal the True Character-Mutual Hypocrisy and Deception-Court for the Future as well as for the PresentTrue Marriage not a Lottery ............ LECTURE XV. MARRIAGE. 211 Marriage, the Foundation of the Social Fabric-Improper Marriage a living Misery-Marriage should be made a Study-Ignorance, the Bane of MatrimonyImportance of the Results of Marriage-Characteristics of the Sexes-Contrasts and Affinities of Character-Goodness does not constitute Harmony-Duty of nearly all to Marry-Matrimonial Candidates Classified-A true Mate the other half of Self-Honesty in Matrimonial Matters-Marrying for a Home, Money, or Passion-Study thy Constitution-Harmony of Temperament-Intellectual Adaptation-Moral and Social Harmony-A thorough Acquaintance neces sary ............ ......... 229 HOPES AND HELPS. LECTURE I. INTRODUCTION. Responsibility of the Teacher's Mission-Importance of a Single ThoughtFacility of the Youthful Mind-Author's Sympathy with the Young-The Sea of Life-Life, a.Scene of Progression-Anticipations of the Young-Dangers in Life's Journey-Youthful Fear and Instability-True and False Bravery— Moral Courage-Free Institutions, a Nursery for Youth-Self-made or Never Made-Good and Bad Luck-Youth, the Seed-time of Age-Age, the Harvest Season of Life-The Young, Heirs to the Past and Future-What will you do with the Future?-An Answer demanded-Duties and Rewards of the Young. No position in the minister's or the author's life is more responsible than that of lecturer or essayist to youth. And if apologies from a mortal are ever needed, they are when such offices are assumed. If a man should ever tremble, it should be when he essays to impress convictions upon youthful minds; for in them he will touch chords strung by the Infinite Organist of creation, which will vi brate when he shall be gathered to his fathers, which will echo and re-echo from hill to hill down the valley of life, and reverberate along the shores of eternity. A thought struck into a young mind! Who shall tell what it will 10 IMPORTANCE OF A SINGLE THOUGHT. bring forth? It may overturn empires, undermine systems, reconstruct states, metamorphose philosophy, and remodel the fabric of society. A single seed-thought in the minds of Luther, Franklin, Gall, and Fulton, led the way to the changes and victories, yea to the wonders with which the world has been startled within the last three hundred years, and which have put a new face upon, and a new heart into, human affairs. It is so with almost every mind, even those whose doings have been all within themselves. A thought has started a new life, established a new earth, and spread a new heaven in the soul. Often in minds unknown to fame there are revolutions not less wonderful and extensive in their influence, than those which suddenly shock and stir the world. The deep river runs still. The silent influences of the calm old sun, are mightier far than the storm-crash or earthquake-shock. Every mind 'n the course of its progressive and eternal being, passes through changes that outvie in grandeur and importance the revolutions of the whole world in any one century, and all these may be, and no doubt often are, sensibly affected by a single thought. Better measure the circuit of Orion than think to measure the influence of a thought. A good thought or a virtuous impression may redeem a whole life from sin and misery; and a bad impression may work a corresponding amount of ruin, with all their secondary and ultimate results, which no human stretch of thought can comprehend. We stand amid mysteries momentous and grand. Th |