Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards receive me to glory.

NINTH EDITION.

LONDON: HAMILTON ADAMS AND CO.

BIRMINGHAM: HUDSON AND SON.

MDCCCLXIII.

1863

PREFACE.

I INSCRIBE this volume to every young man who, by the prompting of his own mind, or by the persuasion of others, shall be induced to peruse it. Το every such youth I say, with all seriousness and earnestness, ponder well its title, "The Young Man's Friend and Guide through Life to Immortality." Do you desire a friend? I offer myself: and I believe you will find me to be such in these pages. Do you need a guide through life, with all its duties, temptations, and perplexities? I am willing to perform this service for you; and 'I dare pledge the truth power and love of God, that if, by his grace, sought by faith in Christ and fervent prayer, you follow the directions here laid down, you will rise to respectability usefulness and comfort in this world, and everlasting happiness in the next.

Eternal and Almighty God! thou source of light,

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love, and purity, who didst send thy seraph with a coal from off thine altar to purify thy prophet's lips; and didst cause thine Holy Spirit to descend, like cloven tongues of flame, upon the heads of thine apostles; and who art still willing to grant wisdom to all who seek it through the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ; send down thy blessing upon the youth of our age and nation; and grant, in thy great mercy, that many of them may by this volume be guided in safety through the dangers of this sinful world, and led, by patient continuance in well-doing, to glory, honour, and immortality, in the world to