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that leaves deeper scars upon the soul than any sin that a man can
mit。 It is a sin that slays its thousands in every age； and has
overthrown not a few of the saints of God in time past。 Lot； and
Samson； and David are fearful proofs。 It is the sin that man dares to
smile at； and smoothes over under the names of gaiety； unsteadiness；
wildness； and irregularity。 But it is the sin that the devil peculiarly
rejoices over； for he is the 〃unclean spirit；〃 and it is the sin that
God peculiarly abhors； and declares He 〃will judge〃 （Heb。 13：4）。
Young men； 〃flee fornication〃 （1 Cor。 6：18） if you love life。 〃Let no
man deceive you with vain words： for because of these things eth the
wrath of God upon the children of disobedience〃 （Eph。 5：6）。 Flee the
occasions of it；the pany of those who might draw you into it； the
places where you might be tempted to it。 Read what our Lord says about
it in Matt。 5：28。 Be like holy Job： 〃Make a covenant with your eyes〃
（Job 31：1）。 Flee talking of it。 It is one of the things that ought not
so much as to be named。 You cannot handle pitch and not be defiled。
Flee the thoughts of it； resist them； mortify them； pray against
them；make any sacrifice rather than give way。 Imagination is the
hotbed where this sin is too often hatched。 Guard your thoughts； and
there is little fear about your deeds。
Consider the caution I have been giving。 If you forget all else； do not
let this be forgotten。
（3） Another danger to young men is thoughtlessness and inconsideration。
Want of thought is one simple reason why thousands of souls are cast
away for ever。 Men will not consider； will not look forward； will not
look around them；will not reflect on the end of their present course；
and the sure consequences of their present ways；and awake at last to
find they are damned for want of thinking。
Young men； none are in more danger of this than yourselves。 You know
little of the perils around you； and so you are heedless how you walk。
You hate the trouble of sober； quiet thinking； and so you form wrong
decisions and run your heads into sorrow。 Young Esau must needs have
his brother's pottage and sell his birthright： he never thought how
much he should one day want it。 Young Simeon and Levi must needs avenge
their sister Dinah； and slay the Shechemites： they never considered how
much trouble and anxiety they might bring on their father Jacob and his
house。 Job seems to have been specially afraid of this thoughtlessness
among his children： it is written； that when they had a feast； and 〃the
days of their feasting were gone about； Job sent and sanctified them；
and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt…offerings； according
to the number of them all： for Job said； It may be that my sons have
sinned； and cursed God in their hearts。 Thus did Job continually〃 （Job
1：5）。
Believe me； this world is not a world in which we can do well without
thinking； and least of all do well in the matter of our souls。 〃Don't
think；〃 whispers Satan： he knows that an unconverted heart is like a
dishonest tradesman's books； it will not bear close inspection。 〃
Consider your ways；〃 says the Word of God； stop and think；consider
and be wise。 Well says the Spanish proverb； 〃Hurry es from the
devil。〃 Just as men marry in haste and then repent at leisure； so they
make mistakes about their souls in a minute； and then suffer for it for
years。 Just as a bad servant does wrong； and then says； 〃I never gave
it a thought；〃 so young men run into sin； and then say； 〃I did not
think about it；it did not look like sin。〃 Not look like sin！ What
would you have？ Sin will not e to you； saying； 〃I am sin；〃 it would
do little harm if it did。 Sin always seems 〃good； and pleasant； and
desirable；〃 at the time of mission。 Oh； get wisdom； get discretion！
Remember the words of Solomon： 〃Ponder the paths of thy feet； and let
thy ways be established〃 （Prov。 4：26）。 It is a wise saying of Lord
Bacon； 〃Do nothing rashly。 Stay a little； that you make an end the
sooner。〃
Some； I dare say； will object that I am asking what is unreasonable；
that youth is not the time of life when people ought to be grave and
thoughtful。 I answer； there is little danger of their being too much so
in the present day。 Foolish talking； and jesting； and joking； and
excessive merriment； are only too mon。 Doubtless there is a time for
all things； but to be always light and trifling is anything but wise。
What says the wisest of men？ 〃 It is better to go to the house of
mourning than to go to the house of feasting： for that is the end of
all men； and the living will lay it to heart。 Sorrow is better than
laughter： for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made
better。 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning； but the
heart of fools is in the house of mirth〃 （Eccles。 7：2…4）。 Matthew Henry
tells a story of a great statesman ＇26＇ in Queen Elizabeth's time； who
retired from public life in his latter days； and gave himself up to
serious thought。 His former gay panions came to visit him； and told
him he was being melancholy：〃 No；〃 he replied； 〃I am serious； for
all are serious round about me。 God is serious in observing us；Christ
is serious in interceding for us； the Spirit is serious in striving
with us；the truths of God are serious；our spiritual enemies are
serious in their endeavours to ruin us；poor lost sinners are serious
in hell；and why then should not you and I be serious too？〃
Oh； young men； learn to be thoughtful！ Learn to consider what you are
doing； and whither you are going。 Make time for calm reflection。
mune with your own heart； and be still。 Remember my caution：Do not
be lost merely for the want of thought。
（4） Another danger to young men is contempt of religion。
This also is one of your special dangers。 I always observe that none
pay so little outward respect to religion as young men。 None attend so
badly on means of grace； none take so little part in our services； when
they are present at them；use Bibles and Prayer Books so little；
sing so little；listen to preaching so little。 None are so generally
absent at prayer…meetings； and lectures； and all such week…day helps to
the soul。 Young men seem to think they do not need these things；they
may be good for women and old men； but not for them。 They appear
ashamed of seeming to care about their souls： one would almost fancy
they reckoned it a disgrace to go to heaven at all。 And this is
contempt of religion；it is the same spirit which made the young
people of Bethel mock Elisha；and of this spirit I say to all young
men； Beware！ If it be worth while to have a religion； it is worth while
to be in earnest about it。
Contempt of holy things is the high road to infidelity。 Once let a man
begin to make a jest and joke of any part of Christianity； and I am
never surprised to hear that he has turned out a downright unbeliever。
Young men； have you really made up your minds to this？ Have you fairly
looked into the gulf which is before you； if you persist in despising
religion？ Call to mind the words of David： 〃The fool hath said in his
heart； There is no God〃 （Ps。 14：1）。 The fool； and none but the
fool！He has said it： but he has never proved it！ Remember； if ever
there was a book which has been proved true from beginning to end； by
every kind of evidence； that book is the Bible。 It has defied the
attacks of all enemies and fault…finders。 〃The Word of the Lord is
indeed tried〃 （Ps。 18：30）。 It has been tried in every way； and the more
it has been tried； the more evidently has it been shown to be the very
handiwork of God Himself。 What will you believe； if you do not believe
the Bible？ There is no choice but to believe something ridiculous and
absurd。 ＇27＇ Depend on it； no man is so grossly credulous as the man
who denies the Bible to be the Word of God；and if it be the Word of
God； take heed that you despise it not。
Men may tell you there are difficulties in the Bible；things hard to
be understood。 It would not be God's book if there were not。 And what
if there are？ You do not despise medicines because you cannot explain
all that your doctor does by them。 But whatever men may say； the things
needful to salvation are as clear as daylight。 Be very sure of
this；people never reject the Bible because they cannot understand it。
They understand it only too well； they understand that it condemns
their own behaviour； they understand that it witnesses against their
own sins； and summons them to judgment。 They try to believe it is false
and useless； because they do not like to allow it is true。 〃A bad
life；〃 said the celebrated Lord Rochester； laying his hand on the
Bible； 〃a bad life is the only grand objection to this book。〃 〃Men
question the truth of Christianity；〃 says South； 〃because they hate the
practice of it。〃
Young men