Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub

does it appear for young persons, newly arrived in this city of God, to remember the end for which they were sent into it, and to devote to their Maker's service the first and the best of their days? When they are in the prime of youth and of health, when the mind is untainted with actual guilt, and alive to every generous impression, to consecrate to religion the vernal flower of life? The virgin innocence of the mind is a sacrifice more acceptable to the Almighty, than if we should come before him with the cattle upon a thousand hills, and with ten thousand rivers of oil. If there be joy in heaven over a great and aged sinner that repenteth, how pleasing a spec tacle will it be to God, to angels, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, to behold a person in the critical season of life acquit himself gloriously, and, despising the allurements, the deceitful and transi tory pleasures of sin, choose for himself that better part which shall never be taken away!

f

Dare then, O young man! to remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth; have the courage to be good betimes. Beware of falling into the usual snare of the inexperienced; beware of think ing that you have time enough to be religious, and for that reason may defer the work of your salvation. to maturer age, when, as you foolishly imagine, seriousness and sanctity will comes of their own accord. In answer to this, let me ask you, my friends, how often have you observed time reform any one? Did time reform Saul? Did time reform

[ocr errors]

Ahab ? Did time reform Jezebel? On the contrary, did they not grow bolder in wickedness? You generally, indeed, observe a greater decency in maturer age. The ebullition of youth is then spent, its turbulence is over; but too often, I am afraid, the wild passions have only given place to an external sobriety, whilst the heart is as far from God, and as carnal as ever. If you suspect this to be a hasty decision, examine what passes in the world. Do you not observe great part of men in the decline of life as earthly-minded as before? The passion for pleasure has indeed abated, but the love of lucre, the most sordid of all passions, hath come into its place. If such persons have any regret for their past life, it is only because it is past. Even then, they look with envy upon the gay and the flourishing state of the young. With what joy and triumph do they talk over the excesses of their early days, and seem to renew their age in the contemplation of their youthful follies? Alas, my friends, is not God the Lord of all your time? Is there one of your days which doth not pertain to him? Why would you then take the flower of life, and make it an offering to the enemy of souls ? Is your time too long, to be all employed in the service of God? Is the prime of your days too precious, to be devoted to heaven? And will you only reserve to your Maker the refuse of life, the leavings of the world and the flesh? If you would speak it out, the language of your heart is this: That whilst you are good for any thing, you

will mind the world and its pleasures; that you will crown yourselves with rose-buds, before they are withered, and let no flower of the spring pass aways but if at any time the world shall forsake you, if your passion for pleasure shall have left you, you will then seek the comforts of religion; any part of your time, you think, is good enough for God; you will apply yourselves to the work of your salvation when you are fit for nothing else; and when you cannot make a better of it, you will seek the king dom of heaven.

Is it thus that ye requite the Lord, O people, foolish and unjust? Is this your gratitude to your Benefactor? Is this your love to your Father? Is this your kindness to your Friend? Whilst he now calls upon you in the sweetest language of heaven, "My son give me thy heart," ought it not to be the natural movement of your heart to answer with the good man of old," With my soul have I desired thee in the night; with my spirit within me, will I seek thee early;"" Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none in all the earth whom I desire besides thee."

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

In the second place, Let me exhort you to early piety, from the consideration of those evils which await you in your future daysal ook 27h neog

Now is your golden age. When the morning of life rejoices over your head, every thing around you puts on a smiling appearance. All nature wears a face of beauty, and is animated with a spirit of joy.

[ocr errors]

You walk up and down in a new world; you crop the unblown flower, and drink the untasted spring. Full of spirit, and high in hope, you set out on the journey of life: Visions of bliss present themselves to view: Dreams of joy, with sweet delusion, amuse the vacant mind. You listen and accord to the song of hope, "To-morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant." But, ah! my friends, the flattering scene will not last. The spell is quickly broken, and the enchantment soon over. How hideous will life appear when experience takes off the mask, and discovers the sad reality! Now thou hast no weariness to clog thy waking hours, and no care to disturb thy repose. But know, child of the earth, that thou art born to trouble, and that care, through every subsequent path of life, will haunt thee like a ghost. Health now sparkles in thine eye, the blood flows pure in thy veins, and thy spirits are gay as the morning; But, alas! the time will come when diseases, a numerous and a direful train, will assail thy life: the time will come, when pale and ghastly, and stretched on a bed," chasten+ ed with pain, and the multitude of thy bones with strong pain, thou wilt be ready to choose strangling and death rather than life."

You are now happy in your earthly companions. Friendship, which in the world is a feeble sentiment, with you is a strong passion. But shift the scene for a few years, and behold the man of thy right hand become unto thee as an alien. Behold

the friend of thy youth, who was one with thine own soul, striving to supplant thee, and laying snares for thy ruin! I mention not these things, my friends, to make you miserable before the time. God forbid that I should anticipate the evil day, unless I could arm you against it. Now remember your Creator, consecrate to him the early period of your days, and the light of his countenance will shine upon you through life. Amid all the changes of this fluctuating scene, you have a Friend that never fails. Then let the tempest beat, and the floods descend, you are safe and happy under the shelter of the Rock of Ages.

Thirdly, The season of youth devoted to piety, will yield you a comfortable old age.

When the fire and spirit of youth are decayed, when sober age retires from the noise and bustle of a busy world, and loves to spend in peace the tranquil Sabbath of life, what joy will it afford to be able to look back with pleasure on the actions of other years! Worn out and weary of his pilgrimage, the traveller now entertains himself by recalling the times that are past, and recollecting the scenes of his early days. In particular, he now loves to recal the period of childhood and of youth, when he wandered up and down, a stranger to care and sorrow, and passed his days in innocence. Often does the fond idea recur; often the pleasant period return. It will add much, my friends, it will add much to the pleasures of the reflection, if you have it in your

« PředchozíPokračovat »