莱尔主教upper_room-第82章
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pithy advice； 〃Young men likewise exhort to be sober…minded〃 （Tit。
2：6）。 I am going to follow the Apostle's advice。 I propose to offer a
few words of friendly exhortation to young men。
I am growing old myself； but there are few things I remember so well as
the days of my youth。 I have a most distinct recollection of the joys
and the sorrows； the hopes and the fears； the temptations and the
difficulties； the mistaken judgments and the misplaced affections； the
errors and the aspirations； which surround and acpany a young man's
life。 If I can only say something to keep some young man in the right
way； and preserve him from faults and sins； which may mar his prospects
both for time and eternity； I shall be very thankful。
There are four things which I propose to do：
I。 I will mention some general reasons why young men need exhorting。
II。 I will notice some special dangers against which young men need to
be warned。
III。 I will give some general counsels which I entreat young men to
receive。
IV。 I will set down some special rules of conduct which I strongly
advise young men to follow。
On each of these four points I have something to say； and I pray God
that what I say may do good to some soul。
I。 Reasons for exhorting Young Men。
1。 In the first place； What are the general reasons why young men need
peculiar exhortation？ I will mention several of them in order。
（1） For one thing； there is the painful fact that there are few young
men anywhere who seem to have any religion。 I speak without respect of
persons； I say it of all。 High or low； rich or poor； gentle or simple；
learned or unlearned； in town or in country；it makes no matter。 I
tremble to observe how few young men are led by the Spirit；how few
are in that narrow way which leads to life；how few are setting their
affections upon things above；how few are taking up the cross； and
following Christ。 I say it with all sorrow； but I believe； as in God's
sight； I am saying nothing more than the truth。
Young men； you form a large and most important class in the population
of this country； but where； and in what condition； are your immortal
souls？ Alas； whatever way we turn for an answer； the report will be one
and the same！
Let us ask any faithful minister of the gospel； and mark what he will
tell us。 How many unmarried young people can he reckon up who e to
the Lord's Supper？ Who are the most backward about means of grace；the
most irregular about Sunday services；the most difficult to draw to
weekly lectures and prayer meetings；the most inattentive under
preaching at all times？ Which part of his congregation fills him with
most anxiety？ Who are the Reubens for whom he has the deepest
〃searchings of heart〃！ Who in his flock are the hardest to manage；who
require the most frequent warnings and rebukes；who occasion him the
greatest uneasiness and sorrow；who keep him most constantly in fear
for their souls； and seem most hopeless？ Depend on it； his answer will
always be； 〃The Young Men。〃
Let us ask the parents in any parish throughout England； and see what
they will generally say。 Who in their families give them most pain and
trouble？ Who need the most watchfulness； and most often vex and
disappoint them？ Who are the first to be led away from what is right；
and the last to remember cautions and good advice？ Who are the most
difficult to keep in order and bounds？ Who most frequently break out
into open sin； disgrace the name they bear； make their friends unhappy；
embitter the old age of their relations； and bring down grey hairs with
sorrow to the grave？ Depend on it； the answer will generally be； 〃The
Young Men。〃
Let us ask the magistrates and officers of justice； and mark what they
will reply。 Who go to public…houses and beer…shops most？ Who are the
greatest Sabbath…breakers？ Who make up riotous mobs and seditious
meetings？ Who are oftenest taken up for drunkenness； breaches of the
peace； fighting； poaching； stealing； assaults； and the like？ Who fill
the gaols； and penitentiaries； and convict ships？ Who are the class
which requires the most incessant watching and looking after？ Depend on
it； they will at once point to the same quarter；they will say； 〃 The
Young Men。〃
Let us turn to the upper classes； and mark the report we shall get from
them。 In one family the sons are always wasting time； health； and
money； in the selfish pursuit of pleasure。 In another； the sons will
follow no profession； and fritter away the most precious years of their
life in doing nothing。 In another； they take up a profession as a mere
form； but pay no attention to its duties。 In another； they are always
forming wrong connections； gambling； getting into debt； associating
with bad panions； keeping their friends in a constant fever of
anxiety。 Alas； rank； and title； and wealth； and education； do not
prevent these things！ Anxious fathers； and heart…broken mothers； and
sorrowing sisters； could tell sad tales about them； if the truth were
known。 Many a family； with everything this world can give； numbers
among its connections some name that is never named；or only named
with regret and shame；some son； some brother； some cousin； some
nephew；who will have his own way； and is a grief to all who know him。
There is seldom a rich family which has not got some thorn in its side；
some blot in its page of happiness； some constant source of pain and
anxiety；and often； far too often； is not this the true cause； 〃 The
Young Men〃？
What shall we say to these things？ These are facts；plain staring
facts；facts which meet us on every side；…facts which cannot be
denied。 How dreadful this is！ How dreadful the thought； that every time
I meet a young man； I meet one who is in all probability an enemy of
God；travelling in the broad way which leads to destruction；unfit
for heaven！ Surely； with such facts before me； you will not wonder that
I exhort you；you must allow there is a cause。
（2） For another thing； death and judgment are before young men； even as
others； and they nearly all seem to forget it。
Young men； it is appointed unto you once to die； and however strong and
healthy you may be now； the day of your death is perhaps very near。 I
see young people sick as well as old。 I bury youthful corpses as well
as aged。 I read the names of persons no older than yourselves in every
churchyard。 I learn from books that； excepting infancy and old age；
more die between thirteen and twenty…three than at any other season of
life。 And yet you live as if you were sure at present not to die at
all。
Are you thinking you will mind these things tomorrow？ Remember the
words of Solomon： 〃 Boast not thyself of to…morrow； for thou knowest
not what a day may bring forth〃 （Prov。 27：1）。 〃Serious things
tomorrow；〃 said a heathen； ＇21＇ to one who warned him of ing danger；
but his to…morrow never came。 Tomorrow is the devil's day； but to…day
is God's。 Satan cares not how spiritual your intentions may be； and how
holy your resolutions； if only they are fixed for to…morrow。 Oh； give
not place to the devil in this matter！ answer him； 〃No： Satan！ It shall
be to…day： to…day。〃 All men do not live to be patriarchs； like Isaac
and Jacob。 Many children die before their fathers。 David had to mourn
the death of his two finest sons； Job lost all his ten children in one
day。 Your lot may be like one of theirs； and when death summons； it
will be vain to talk of to…morrow；you must go at once。
Are you thinking you will have a convenient season to mind these things
by and by？ So thought Felix and the Athenians to whom Paul preached；
but it never came。 Hell is paved with such fancies。 Better make sure
work while you can。 Leave nothing unsettled that is eternal。 Run no
risk when your soul is at stake。 Believe me； the salvation of a soul is
no easy matter。 All need a 〃great〃
