PART If. SERMON VIII. 109 fume behind, but what arises from virtue and goodness: or, per- haps, you will give it up to untimely decay : by indulgence of irregularpleasures, you devote it to be blasted by the breath of Satan, and in the smoke of hell. But is it not a pity, that a strong and healthy constitution should be wasted in slavery to yourappe- tites, and in making provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts of it ? Why should not the powers of nature, in their first bloom and glory, adorn the kingdom of grace ? Why should not our sprightly days, and the-warmest hours of life, be employed in some useful activityfor the interest of God ! What a decencyand honour is added to religion, by its fairest and youngest votaries? Withwhat peculiar praises does the word of God recommendthe character of youthful piety ? How is the young king Josiah cele- bratedin the sacred records ? that while he was yet young hebegan to seek after the God of Davidhis Father, 8c. 2 Citron. xxiv. 3. How is Timothy commended, who had known the holy scriptures from his very childhood: 2 Tim. iii. 15. And there are some young in years, to whom the apostle Johnmight address himself with the same pleasure as he does to the christian converts, whomhe calls young men, strong in grace, who had the love of God abiding in them, and had overcome the wicked one ; 1 John ii. 14. Andhe gives them in the next verse a most need- ful and friendly caution against the love of the world, and the things of it, lest they shùt the love of the Father out of their hearts. What an abuse and waste of life are ye guilty of, when ye lay out the brightest moments of it upon the works of darkness ? and treasure up to yourselves everlasting darkness and fire ! I pity the young, the vigorous, thecomely figuresof human nature, that neglect to seek after divine grace, that are ruined and made wretched to all eternity, by their excessive love of the pleasures, or the pomp, or the riches of this vain world. A thousand such sinners that wereonce the hope of their families, and the lovelyornaments ofthe place they lived in, are now curs- ing the day of their birth, and raging with despair in the midst of the wrathof God. Let me speak a word to those also that have rich endowments of mind. Where we behold a sprightly genius, solid reason, and deep judgment, we cannot forbear loving the possessors of them : We cannot forbear to say, " It is a pity that so much wit shouldbe abused to ridicule religion, and do honour to foul iniquity ; that it should be enslaved to all the arts of lewdness, and dress up the shame of nature in the charms of language." Or if it be not debased to so exceeding vile purposes, yet at best, it is a pity it should be all employed in jesting and tri- lling, in mirth and raillery, and vain amusement. blight it not
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=