“An honest man’s the noblest work of God.”

Honesty is approved and admired by God and man—­by all in heaven, and by all on earth.  Even the corrupt swindler, in his heart, respects an honest man, and stands abashed in his presence.

In all your actions, in all your dealings, let strict and rigid honesty guide you.  Never be tempted to swerve from its dictates, even in the most trivial degree.  There will be strong allurements to entice you from this path.  The appetite for gain—­the voice of avarice—­will often whisper that honesty may be violated to advantage.  There will be times when it will seem that its dictates may be placed aside—­that a little dishonesty will be greatly to your benefit.  Believe not this syren song.  This is the time you are in the most danger of being deceived to your serious injury.  Although there may be occasions when you will seem actually to lose by adhering to honesty, yet you should not shrink a hair’s breadth.  Whatever you may lose, in a pecuniary point of view, at any time, by a strict submission to honesty, you will make up an hundred-fold in the long-run, by establishing and preserving a reputation for integrity.  Looking at it in simply a pecuniary point of view, community will give their countenance, their patronage, and business, much quicker to a man who has established a reputation for honesty, than to one who is known, or suspected of being fraudulent in his dealings.  Every consideration which can bear upon the young, religious, moral and pecuniary, unite to urge them to establish, in the outset of life, the rule of unswerving honesty and integrity, as their constant guide.  Let it not be forgotten, that in every possible point of view, and in every conceivable condition of things, it will always be true, that “Honesty is the best policy.”

I would have the young also cultivate and establish as it fixed rule of life, a friendly and accommodating disposition.  This is all-essential to make their days pleasant and happy.  Other virtues will influence the world to respect you; but an affectionate disposition will cause those with whom you have intercourse, to love you.  Those who wish the friendship and good will of others, must themselves manifest a friendly disposition, and a spirit of kindness.  Whoever would be accommodated and assisted, must themselves be accommodating, and ready to aid those who require it.  In all these things we see the wisdom of the Saviour’s golden rule—­“All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them.”  Be kind, accommodating, loving, and peaceful, in the whole current of your disposition, and the cup of your life will be sweetened with peace and joy.

I exhort the young to adopt the noble motto of the coat-of-arms of New York—­“EXCELSIOR!”

    “The shades of night were falling fast,
     As through an Alpine village passed
     A youth, who bore, ’mid snow and ice,
     A banner with the strange device,
        EXCELSIOR!”