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unprofitable and vain。 They only are true worshippers who 〃 worship God
in spirit and in truth： the Father seeketh such to worship Him〃 （John
4：23）。
But means of grace are not to be despised because they are not
saviours。 Gold is not food；you cannot eat it； but you would not
therefore say it is useless； and throw it away。 Your soul's eternal
well…doing most certainly does not depend on means of grace； but it is
no less certain that without them； as a general rule； your soul will
not do well。 God might take all who are saved to heaven in a chariot of
fire； as He did Elijah； but He does not do so。 He might teach them all
by visions； and dreams； and miraculous interpositions； without
requiring them to read or think for themselves； but He does not do so。
And why not？ Because He is a God that works by means； and it is His law
and will that in all man's dealings with him means shall be used。 None
but a fool or enthusiast would think of building a house without
ladders and scaffolding； and just so no wise man will despise means
I dwell the more on this point； because Satan will try hard to fill
your minds with arguments against means。
He will draw your attention to the numbers of persons who use them and
are no better for the using。 〃See there；〃 he will whisper； 〃do you not
observe those who go to church are no better than those who stay away？〃
But do not let this move you。 It is never fair to argue against a thing
because it is improperly used。 It does not follow that means of grace
can do no good because many attend on them and get no good from them。
Medicine is not to be despised because many take it and do not recover
their health。 No man would think of giving up eating and drinking
because others choose to eat and drink improperly； and so make
themselves ill。 The value of means of grace； like other things；
depends； in a great measure； on the manner and spirit in which we use
them。
I dwell on this point too； because of the strong anxiety I feel that
every young man should regularly hear the preaching of Christ's gospel。
I cannot tell you how important I think this is。 By God's blessing； the
ministry of the gospel might be the means of converting your soul；…of
leading you to a saving knowledge of Christ； of making you a child of
God in deed and in truth。 This would be cause for eternal thankfulness
indeed。 This would be an event over which angels would rejoice。 But
even if this were not the case； there is a restraining power and
influence in the ministry of the gospel； under which I earnestly desire
every young man to be brought。 There are thousands whom it keeps back
from evil； though it has not yet turned them unto God；it has made
them far better members of society； though it has not yet made them
true Christians。 There is a certain kind of mysterious power in the
faithful preaching of the gospel； which tells insensibly on multitudes
who listen to it without receiving it into their hearts。 To hear sin
cried down； and holiness cried up； to hear Christ exalted； and the
works of the devil denounced；… to hear the kingdom of heaven and its
blessedness described； and the world and its emptiness exposed； to hear
this week after week； Sunday after Sunday； is seldom without good
effect to the soul。 It makes it far harder afterwards to run into any
excess of riot and profligacy。 It acts as a wholesome check upon a
man's heart。 This； I believe； is one way in which that promise of God
is made good； 〃My word shall not return unto Me void〃 （Isa。 55：11）。
There is much truth in that strong saying of Whitefield； 〃The gospel
keeps many a one from the gaol and gallows； if it does not keep him
from hell。〃
Let me here name another point which is closely connected with this
subject。 Let nothing ever tempt you to bee a Sabbath…breaker。 I
press this on your attention。 Make conscience of giving all your
Sabbath to God。 A spirit of disregard for this holy day is growing up
amongst us with fearful rapidity； and not least among young men。 Sunday
travelling by railways and steamboats； Sunday visiting； Sunday
excursions； are being every year more mon than they were； and are
doing infinite harm to souls。
Young men； be jealous on this point。 Whether you live in town or
country； take up a decided line； resolve not to profane your Sabbath。
Let not the plausible argument of 〃needful relaxation for your
body；〃let not the example of all around you；let not the invitation
of panions with whom you may be thrown；let none of these things
move you to depart from this settled rule； that God's day shall be
given to God。
Once give over caring for the Sabbath； and in the end you will give
over caring for your soul。 The steps which lead to this conclusion are
easy and regular。 Begin with not honouring God's day； and you will soon
not honour God's house；cease to honour God's house； and you will soon
cease to honour God's book； cease to honour God's book； and by and by
you will give God no honour at all。 Let a man lay the foundation of
having no Sabbath； and I am never surprised if he finishes with the
top…stone of no God。 It is a remarkable saying of Judge Hale； 〃Of all
the persons who were convicted of capital crimes while he was upon the
bench； he found only a few who would not confess； on inquiry； that they
began their career of wickedness by a neglect of the Sabbath。〃
Young men； you may be thrown among panions who forget the honour of
the Lord's day； but resolve； by God's help； that you will always
remember to keep it holy。 Honour it by a regular attendance at some
place where the gospel is preached。 Settle down under a faithful
ministry； and once settled； let your place in church never be empty。
Believe me； you will find a special blessing following you： 〃If you
call the Sabbath a delight； the holy of the Lord； honourable； and shalt
honour Him； not doing thine own ways； nor finding thine own pleasure；
nor speaking thine own words： then shalt thou delight thyself in the
Lord； and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth〃
（Isa。 58：13…14）。 And one thing is very certain；your feelings about
the Sabbath will always be a test and criterion of your fitness for
heaven。 Sabbaths are a foretaste and fragment of heaven。 The man who
finds them a burden and not a privilege； may be sure that his heart
stands in need of a mighty change。
（5） For another thing； resolve that wherever you are； you will pray。
Prayer is the life…breath of a man's soul。 Without it； we may have a
name to live； and be counted Christians； but we are dead in the sight
of God。 The feeling that we must cry to God for mercy and peace is a
mark of grace； and the habit of spreading before Him our soul's wants
is an evidence that we have the spirit of adoption。 And prayer is the
appointed way to obtain the relief of our spiritual necessities。It
opens the treasury； and sets the fountain flowing。 If we have not； it
is because we ask not。
Prayer is the way to procure the outpouring of the Spirit upon our
hearts。 Jesus has promised the Holy Ghost； the forter。 He is ready
to e down with all His precious gifts； renewing； sanctifying；
purifying； strengthening； cheering； encouraging； enlightening；
teaching； directing； guiding into all truth。 But then He waits to be
entreated。
And here it is； I say it with sorrow； here it is that men fall short so
miserably。 Few indeed are to be found who pray： many who go down on
their knees； and say a form perhaps； but few who pray； few who cry unto
God； few who call upon the Lord； few who seek as if they wanted to
find； few who knock as if they hungered and thirsted； few who wrestle；
few who strive with God earnestly for an answer； few who give Him no
rest； few who continue in prayer； few who watch unto prayer； few who
pray always without ceasing； and faint not。 Yes： few pray！ It is just
one of the things assumed as a matter of course； but seldom practised；
a thing which is everybody's business； but in fact hardly anybody
performs。
Young men； believe me； if your soul is to be saved； you must pray。 God
has no dumb children。 If you are to resist the world； the flesh； and
the devil； you must pray： it is in vain to look for strength in the
hour of trial； if it has not been sought for。 You may be thrown with
those who never do it； you may have to sleep in the same room with some
one who never asks anything of God；still； mark my words； you must
pray。
I can quite believe you find great difficulties about it； difficulties
about opportunities； and seasons； and places。 I dare not lay down too
positive rules on such points as these。 I leave them to your own
conscience。 You must be guided by circumstances。 Our Lord Jesus Christ
prayed on a mountain； Isaac prayed in the fields； Hezekiah turned his
face to the wall as he lay upon his bed； D