In the spring-time of nature, the soil is better prepared for the reception of the seed, and the energies of vegetation are more vigorous; so it is with the mind. In youth the heart is more easily impressed, the affections more readily moved, the imagination is more lively. You have an ardour and fervency most remote from the timid, hesitating caution of age, and eminently favourable to conversion. Disdaining all resistance, ambitious of great achievements, full of high resolves, and leaping over opposing obstacles, youth surveys, with sparkling eyes, the crown of its wishes, braces itself for action, and flies to the goal; whilst age, creeping fearfully along, afraid of every difficulty, discouraged by the least resistance, can scarcely be impelled to move. I know that these things of themselves are not sufficient to make you holy; but when grace sanctifies them, and directs them to proper objects, they must render your entrance on religion more easy, your progress more rapid, and your enjoyment more strong. Youth are less hardened in sin, than persons of riper years. The depravity of our nature grows with our growth, and strengthens with our strength. Like a tree, it strikes its roots deeper, and takes a faster hold on the soil every year. You have principles of corruption already in your hearts, my children, but they have not, by long indulgence, become so stiffened into habit, as they will be at some future time. Your prejudices and prepossessions are yet few and feeble. As yet the sentiments of modesty and propriety, and a regard to the opinion of others, would make you blush for acts of vice, and endeavour to conceal them from the world. In riper years you will assume a boldness in iniquity, disregard the censures of others, and cease to be restrained by them. Conscience has not yet been deeply corrupted; it still preserves something of its tremulous delicacy, and nice sensibility; it still elevates its warning voice, and strongly remonstrates at your least deviation from the path of virtue; but in the aged sinner, weary of useless reproof, it is almost silent, or totally disregarded. We know that without divine grace, conversion, even in your case, cannot take place; but we know, at the same time, by observation, that divine grace very often follows in the order of nature. Youth are pre-eminently encouraged to seek the possession and influence of piety. There are many invitations, promises, and injunctions, specially addressed to them. "Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth. I love them that love me, and they that seek me early shall find me." Under the Jewish dispensation, God called for the first-fruits of all things, intending, no doubt, to teach, amongst other lessons, his delight in the dedication of the first-fruits of our life to his service. How pleased was the Redeemer with the hosannas of the children, and how deeply was he interested in the case of that hopeful youth, who came to inquire of him the way to life. And does not the parable of the Prodigal Son teach us how welcome is the return of the young to the Father of Mercies? God chose David, the youngest son of the family; and set his love upon Jacob, while Esau the elder is passed by. He accepted the sacrifice of Abel, the younger brother, while that of Cain is rejected. Amongst all the disciples, John was the most beloved, and he was, at the same time, the youngest. But still the principal design of this chapter is to set forth the advantages attendant on the possession of early piety. * 1. Of these some relate to others. This will cause you to be a source of ineffable delight to your parents; and probably render you a blessing to your brothers and sisters. Piety in youth will render you a benefactor to your species, and a blessing to society. Instead of seducing others by a bad example, you will benefit them by the influence of a good one; instead of poisoning others by corrupt principles, you will scatter along your path the seed of truth, piety, and morality; instead of drawing down the vengeance of God upon society by your crimes, you will bring down his blessing by your prayers. *In the memoirs of that truly apostolic missionary, the Rev. Henry Martyn, occurs the following anecdote, which most forcibly illustrates the subject of the influence of filial conduct upon parental and domestic comfort and respectability :- "Visited the hospital this day, and read the eleventh chapter of John to a poor man, in whose room, at the workhouse, I was struck with the misery that presented itself. He was lying with his clothes and hat on, upon the bed, dying. His wife was cleaning the room, as if nothing was the matter; and upon the threshold was the daughter, about thirty years old, who had been delirious thirteen years." What a scene of wretchedness! What a miserable group! It is a picture. from which the mind turns with the deepest emotions of distressful. pity. But, oh! the cause of this misery!! "The dying man," continues Mr. Martyn," was once a respectable innkeeper in the town; but the extravagance of a son brought him to poverty, and a daughter, who foresaw it, to insanity." What must be the feelings (except, indeed, vice had turned his heart to stone) of the guilty author of this complicated misery, when he saw the consuming grief of his brokenhearted father, and heard the wild ramblings of his maniac sister, while conscience thundered in his ear," Thou art the cause of this dreadful calamity!!" How many broken hearts and insane minds has similar conduct produced? How many are at this moment bending to the grave, or shut up in the cells of a lunatic asylum, who, but for profligate children, might have been living in health, sanity and respectability!! You will be a patriot of the most elevated and successful nature; and by your good conduct, and the support of all religious institutions, do more for the good of your country than fleets and armies can achieve. 2. Innumerable advantages will result from early piety to yourself. ་ It will exert a friendly influence over your temporal interests.* It will open springs of consolation all along your path through the vale of tears, whose waters, adapted to every condition, shall never fail. Religion, chosen in youth as your guide, companion, and friend, will attend you through all the journey of life; will go with you where you go, and dwell with you wherever you dwell: she will accompany you when with many tears you quit the parental roof, and go forth, a young adventurer, into the world. She will travel with you in the wilderness, or sail with you on the ocean;) she will abide with you in a mansion, or inhabit with you the cottage when every other friend forsakes you, she will cling to you the closer; smile, when every other face is covered with a frown; and put forth all her energies to comfort you in the time of your humbled fortunes in seasons of perplexity, she will guide you to the fountain. of light when oppressed with care, will place you on the rock of ages; in the storms of affliction, will cast for you the anchor of hope; and in times of dreary desolation, will enable you, by faith, to see the land which is afar off, the land of promise and of rest. : * See the chapter on this subject. Early piety is a distinguished honour. If there be true honour in the universe, it is to be found in religion. Even the heathen were sensible of this; hence the Romans built the temples of virtue and honour close together, to teach that the way to honour was by virtue. Religion is the image of God in the soul of man. Can glory itself rise higher than this? What a distinction! to have this lustre put upon the character in youth. It was mentioned by Paul as a singular honour to the believing Jews, that they first trusted in Christ; and in referring to Andronicus and Junia, he mentions it to their praise that they were in Christ before him. To be a child of God, an heir of glory, a disciple of Christ, a warrior of the cross, a citizen of the New Jerusalem, from our youth up, adorns the brow with amaranthine wreaths of fame. A person converted in youth, is like the sun rising on a summer's morning to shine through a long bright day; but a person converted late in life, is like the evening star, a lovely object of christian contemplation, but not appearing till the day is closing, and then but for a little while. Early piety will be of immense importance to you in the various relations of life in which you may stand. If you are parents, it will dispose and enable you to train up your children and servants in the fear of God. It will prevent you from neglecting the immortal interests of those who are committed to your care. How many parents are accessary to the murder of their children's "souls; blood-guiltiness rests upon their conscience, and the execrations of their own offspring |