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your souls： he is not。 He wants them to make them miserable； like
himself； and will have them if he can。 Surely his enmity is not to be
despised？
And your enemy is cunning。 For near six thousand years he has been
reading one book； and that book is the heart of man。 He ought to know
it well； and he does know it； all its weakness； all its deceitfulness；
all its folly。 And he has a store of temptations； such as are most
likely to do it harm。 Never will you go to the place where he will not
find you。 Go into towns；…he will be them。 Go into a wilderness； he will
be there also。 Sit among drunkards and revilers；and he will be there
to help you。 Listen to preaching；and he will be there to distract
you。 Surely such enmity is not to be despised？
Young men； this enemy is working hard for your destruction； however
little you may think it。 You are the prize for which he is specially
contending。 He foresees you must either be the blessings or the curses
of your day； and he is trying hard to effect a lodgment in your hearts
thus early； in order that you may help forward his kingdom by and by。
Well does he understand that to spoil the bud is the surest way to mar
the flower。
Oh that your eyes were opened； like those of Elisha's servant in
Dothan！ Oh that you did but see what Satan is scheming against your
peace！ I must warn you；I must exhort you。 Whether you will hear or
not； I cannot； dare not； leave you alone。
（5） For another thing； young men need exhorting； because of the sorrow
it will save them； to begin serving God now。
Sin is the mother of all sorrow； and no sort of sin appears to give a
man so much misery and pain as the sins of his youth。 The foolish acts
he did； the time he wasted；the mistakes he made； the bad pany he
kept；the harm he did himself； both body and soul； the chances of
happiness he threw away； the openings of usefulness he neglected； all
these are things that often embitter the conscience of an old man；
throw a gloom on the evening of his days； and fill the later hours of
his life with self…reproach and shame。
Some men could tell you of the untimely loss of health； brought on by
youthful sins。 Disease racks their limbs with pain； and life is almost
a weariness。 Their muscular strength is so wasted； that a grasshopper
seems a burden。 Their eye has bee prematurely dim； and their natural
force abated。 The sun of their health has gone down while it is yet
day； and they mourn to see their flesh and body consumed。 Believe me；
this is a bitter cup to drink。
Others could give you sad accounts of the consequences of idleness。
They threw away the golden opportunity for learning。 They would not get
wisdom at the time when their minds were most able to receive it； and
their memories most ready to retain it。 And now it is too late。 They
have not leisure to sit down and learn。 They have no longer the same
power； even if they had the leisure。 Lost time can never be redeemed。
This too is a bitter cup to drink。
Others could tell you of grievous mistakes in judgment； from which they
suffer all their fives long。 They would have their own way。 They would
not take advice。 They formed some connection which has been altogether
ruinous to their happiness。 They chose a profession for which they were
entirely unsuited。 And they see it all now。 But their eyes are only
open when the mistake cannot be retrieved。 Oh； this is also a bitter
cup to drink！
Young men； young men； I wish you did but know the fort of a
conscience not burdened with a long list of youthful sins。 These are
the wounds that pierce the deepest。 These are the arrows that drink up
a man's spirit。 This is the iron that enters into the soul。 Be merciful
to yourselves。 Seek the Lord early； and so you will be spared many a
bitter tear。
This is the truth that Job seems to have felt。 He says； 〃Thou writest
bitter things against me； and makest me to possess the iniquities of my
youth〃 （Job 13：26）。 So also his friend Zophar； speaking of the wicked；
says； 〃His bones are full of the sins of his youth； which shall lie
down with him in the dust〃 （Job 20：11）。
David also seems to have felt it。 He says to the Lord； 〃Remember not
the sins of my youth； nor my transgressions〃 （Ps。 25：7）。
Beza； the great Swiss Reformer； felt it so strongly； that he named it
in his will as a special mercy that he had been called out from the
world； by the grace of God； at the age of sixteen。
Go and ask believers now； and I think many an one will tell you much
the same。 〃Oh that I could live my young days over again！〃 he will most
probably say。
〃Oh that I had spent the beginning of my life in a better fashion！ Oh
that I had not laid the foundation of evil habits so strongly in the
spring…time of my course！〃
Young men； I want to save you all this sorrow； if I can。 Hell itself is
truth known too late。 Be wise in time。 What youth sows； old age must
reap。 Give not the most precious season of your life to that which will
not fort you in your latter end。 Sow to yourselves rather in
righteousness： break up your fallow ground； sow not among thorns。
Sin may go lightly from your hand； or run smoothly off your tongue now；
but depend on it； sin and you will meet again by and by； however little
you may like it。 Old wounds will often ache and give pain long after
they are healed； and only a scar remains：so may you find it with your
sins。 The footprints of animals have been found on the surface of rocks
that were once wet sand； thousands of years after the animal that made
them has perished and passed away； ＇24＇ so also it may be with your
sins。
〃Experience；〃 says the proverb； 〃keeps a dear school； but fools will
learn in no other。〃 I want you all to escape the misery of learning in
that school。 I want you to avoid the wretchedness that youthful sins
are sure to entail。 This is the last reason why I exhort you。
II。 Dangers of Young Men。
2。 In the second place； There are some special dangers against which
young men need to be warned。
（1） One danger to young men is pride。
I know well that all souls are in fearful peril。 Old or young； it
matters not； all have a race to run； a battle to fight； a heart to
mortify； a world to overe； a body to keep under； a devil to resist；
and we may well say； Who is sufficient for these things？ But still
every age and condition has its own peculiar snares and temptations；
and it is well to know them。 He that is forewarned is forearmed。 If I
can only persuade you to be on your guard against the dangers I am
going to name； I am sure I shall do your souls an essential service。
Pride is the oldest sin in the world。 Indeed； it was before the world。
Satan and his angels fell by pride。 They were not satisfied with their
first estate。 Thus pride stocked hell with its first inhabitants。
Pride cast Adam out of paradise。 He was not content with the place God
assigned him。 He tried to raise himself； and fell。 Thus sin； sorrow；
and death entered in by pride。
Pride sits in all our hearts by nature。 We are born proud。 Pride makes
us rest satisfied with ourselves；…think we are good enough as we
are；stop our ears against advice；refuse the gospel of Christ；turn
every one to his own way。 But pride never reigns anywhere so powerfully
as in the heart of a young man。
How mon is it to see young men heady； highminded； and impatient of
counsel！ How often they are rude and uncourteous to all about them；
thinking they are not valued and honoured as they deserve！ How often
they will not stop to listen to a hint from an older person！ They think
they know everything。 They are full of conceit of their own wisdom。
They reckon elderly people； and especially their relations； stupid； and
dull； and slow。 They fancy they want no teaching or instruction
themselves： they understand all things。 It makes them almost angry to
be spoken to。 Like young horses； they cannot bear the least control。
They must needs be independent； and have their own way。 They seem to
think； like those whom Job mentioned； 〃We are the people； and wisdom
shall die with us〃 （Job 12：2）。 And this is all pride。
Such an one was Rehoboam； who despised the counsel of the old
experienced men who stood before his father； and hearkened to the
advice of the young men of his own generation。 He lived to reap the
consequences of his folly。 There are many like him。
Such an one was the prodigal son in the parable； who must needs have
the portion of goods which fell to him； and set up for himself。 He
could not submit to live quietly under his father's roof； but would go
into a far country； and be his own master。 Like the little child that
will leave its mother's hand and walk alone； he soon smarted for his
folly。 He became wiser when he had to eat husks with the swine。 But
there are many like him。