spring forth in a vigorous growth.  Its roots will strike deep and strong, in such a soil, and draw thence the utmost vigor and fruitfulness.  Its trunk will grow up in majestic proportions—­its wide-spreading branches will be clothed with a green luxuriant foliage, “goodly to look upon”—­the most beautiful of blossoms will in due time, blush on every twig—­and at length each limb and bough shall bend beneath the rich, golden fruit, ready to drop into the hand.  Beneath its grateful shade you can find rest and repose, when the heat and burden of life come upon you.  And of its delicious fruit, you can pluck and eat, and obtain refreshment and strength, when the soul becomes wearied with labor and care, or the weight of years.  Would you behold such a tree?  Remember it grows alone on the soil of a good reputation!!  Labor to prepare such a soil.

Believe not, ye youthful, that God has made the path of virtue and religion hard and thorny.  Believe not he has overhung it with dark clouds, and made it barren of fruit and beauty.  Believe not that rugged rocks, and briers, and brambles, choke the way, and lacerate the limbs of those who would walk therein!  No! he has made it a smooth and peaceful path—­an easy and pleasant way.—­“Wisdom’s ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”

The young who overlook these considerations—­who lay their plans, and cherish their expectations, in reference to their future career, without any regard to the importance of a good character—­who, in marking out their course, lose sight of the necessity of laboring to establish a worthy reputation to commence with—­who, in building their hopes of success and happiness, are not convinced that “a good name” is the only foundation on which such hopes can legitimately rest—­have commenced wrong.  They have made a radical and lamentable mistake at the outset.  A mistake, which, unless speedily corrected, will prove most disastrous in all its influences, and be keenly felt and deplored throughout life.

Those who fall into error on this point, who view a good reputation as a matter of no moment—­well enough if you can secure it without much trouble, but not worth laboring for, with zeal and perseverance—­have placed themselves in a most critical position.  They are like a ship in the midst of the wide wastes of ocean, without chart compass, or rudder, liable to be turned hither and thither by every fickle wind that blows, and dashed upon dangerous reefs by the heaving billows.  Failing to see the importance of establishing a good character, they fall easy victims to sinful temptations, and, ere long, verging farther and farther from the path of rectitude, they at length find every fond hope, every fair prospect, blasted for life.

To a young man, a good character is the best capital he can possess, to start with in life.  It is much better, and far more to be depended on than gold.  Although money may aid in establishing a young man in business, under favorable circumstances, yet without a good character he cannot succeed.  His want of reputation will undermine the best advantages, and failure, and ruin, will, sooner or later, overtake him with unerring certainty!!