And when they consider him as making a profession of the Christian religion, they expect that his conduct should be manly, serious, and dignified.

But all such amusements, as those in question, if resorted to for the filling up of his vacant hours, they conceive to be unworthy of his intellect, and to be below the dignity of his Christian character.
They believe also, when they consider man as a moral being, that it is his duty, as it is unquestionably his interest, to aim at the improvement of his moral character.

Now one of the foundations, on which this improvement must be raised, is knowledge.

But knowledge is only slowly acquired.

And human life, or the time for the acquisition of it, is but short.