But now, perhaps, it may be said, that it is too much to expect of young persons that they should be serious and thoughtful, that youth is the time for happiness, and that cares and troubles will come fast enough, without hurrying them with these considerations. True it is, that too often middle-aged people, and old people, do talk in this kind of way, because (as I said before) they do not like to see younger persons more earnest than themselves in doing service to ALMIGHTY GOD. And because, too, the sight of a young person, going on in quiet unobtrusive ways of holiness, charity, and obedience, is felt as a reproach by those elder persons who look back on their own past years,—the best, perhaps, of their life,-spent in vanity and thoughtlessness, perhaps in vice and irreligion. Therefore such persons talk about youth being the time for what they call happiness, and that it is a pity to perplex it with grave, serious thoughts of GOD, Religion and Eternity. No doubt, the fathers and mothers of “the daughters of the land" talked in this way to Jacob's daughter; and she, alas! was too ready to listen to such kind of instruction. But let all young persons consider that such talk as this is nothing but the language of the great enemy, put into the mouths of elder persons, and readily used by those whom he has already too much deluded.

There is no reason for supposing that the advice of old persons, merely as such, is to be implicitly relied on. Rather, we seem to be warned against any such confidence, as for instance, where Elihu says, in the book of Job (chap. xxxii.):

"I said, Days should speak,

And multitude of years should teach wisdom: ..

(But) Great men are not [always] wise,

Neither do the aged [always] understand judgment."

Therefore, though Christian young persons are bound in all ways to show respect to their elders, "to love, honour, and succour their parents, to order themselves lowly and reverently to all their betters;" still they must remember that their FATHER in Heaven has the first and original claim on them for love and obedience; and that it is (as the Apostle intimates) for the LORD's sake, for the sake of their SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, that they must yield the service of duty and obedience even to their parents. Now this implies, that so far from its being out of the

question for young persons to be serious and considerate, it is entirely expected of them; as much of them as of older persons. And as to the notion that a dutiful, regular, obedient course of life will make a young person dull and unhappy, and take away his natural cheerfulness and good spirits, what reason is there for saying, or thinking this? Rather, what misery and remorse are young persons often brought to, when, like Jacob's daughter, they have wandered out of the good and the right way, and found too late that the liberty and the gratifications which the world offered them, were all false, deceitful, and ruinous!

I may then mention two cautions particularly, which young persons had need bear in mind, when beginning to hold intercourse with what is called the world, in these times of great, and, perhaps, peculiar danger. First, and above all things, let them keep strongly impressed on their thoughts, that ALMIGHTY GOD does, indeed, love them; that in Holy Baptism He chose them for His own sons and daughters; that in Confirmation, HE sent His special messenger and minister to assure them of His blessing; and that this blessing was bestowed on them at that critical time of their lives, when oftentimes a choice is made which shall determine the Christian's condition even through eternity. I say, young persons should be careful how they get into ways of disliking the thoughts of GOD, of being weary of His presence, of behaving disrespectfully in the church, His holy House, of being ashamed of HIM and His service before wicked, or careless, or trifling people. For God will not be mocked; HE will not allow us to take liberties with HIM, if I may use the expression; if we venture so to do, and persist in it, we must expect, be we young or old, that He will withdraw His countenance from us, and leave us to walk in our own ways. Many people, advanced in years, when they look back on their past lives, cannot but remember, with shame and remorse, in how many instances they have slighted and insulted their Heavenly FATHER; and they would give worlds if they might but have the opportunity allowed them to serve God better than they have done. But this is impossible. How happy, then, ought young persons to consider themselves, in having it in their power to consecrate the prime of their days to HIм on whom we all depend; happy, I say, if they did but know their happiness, and

make it their delight as well as their practice, while they heartily thank their Heavenly FATHER for having called them to a state of salvation, to pray unto Him to give them His grace, that they may "continue in the same unto their lives' end."

The first caution, then, to young Christians is still to look on the Great ALMIGHTY GOD, through JESUS CHRIST, as their only true Father and Friend.

The second is this, that in the service of GOD they must not expect to find all plain and easy, but quite otherwise; the more earnestly and steadily they serve GOD, the more difficulties and trials must they expect to encounter. They must remember that as their SAVIOUR, immediately after His Baptism, was led up into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil, so, immediately after Confirmation young Christians are led out (so to say) into the wilderness of this evil world, to be tempted, in various ways, by the same enemy of God and man. And let them not think that, because they see the generality of people, alas! careless and unconcerned, that therefore there is no danger. But rather let them look well to themselves betimes, and before their hearts become blinded and hardened by sin's deceitfulness. And then, if by the almost miraculous grace of God's good SPIRIT, they are conducted safe through so many perils, seen and unseen, they may have reason in the evening of their days, to bless the hand which so preserved them, and to look forward with hope to that day when He who died for them on the bitter Cross, who took them for His own in Holy Baptism, and who watched over them with more than parental anxiety all through their difficulties and trials, shall receive them to HIMSELF, to that Home where all is happiness, security, and eternal peace.

SERMON CCCXLVI.

THE OLD PATHS, AND THE GOOD WAY.

JEREMIAH vi. 16.

"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein."

In this startling warning, our attention is first caught by the first word "stand," or stand still,-implying that people are going on in a headlong or careless manner, and that they had need pause and consider the truth of their condition. Opportunities for these pauses and seasons of reflection, the Church has carefully provided, if her sons would but avail themselves of them. Such for example, are the weeks of Lent before Easter, and of Advent before Christmas-the Ember Days at the four seasons of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter; and in each week, the first and the fifth days, Sunday and Friday, besides the Vigils of certain Saints' Days and other holy days, and the days themselves. All these occasions are warnings, as it were, to Christians in the midst of an evil world to "stand" and pause a little, and ascertain whether they are going on in all respects as Christians should; and if not, to lose no time in correcting whatever is amiss, while yet the HOLY SPIRIT grants them the power, which how soon HE may withdraw, no one can say.

Stand in the ways,"-implying the notion of travellers coming to a place where many roads meet, and not being quite sure which is the right one. Now this seems to express, in a

VOL. X.

B b

good degree, the condition of all sincere Christians in every age; but certainly in these times, the parable is of too clear application, whilst there is so much bustle and excitement going on, in matters not only of a worldly kind, but even of religion too. And the quietest persons, if they are in earnest, are obliged almost to stand still in the ways, and think where they are, and what they are coming to.

The Divine warning expresses this when it says, "Stand ye in the ways, and see," i. e. to the best of your power, view and consider the difficulties with which you are encompassed; do not shut your eyes to them, and endeavour to soothe yourselves to rest with words of peace, peace, when there is no peace, but see and contemplate the dangers and difficulties which surround you as a baptized Christian in the midst of an evil world. And then 'ask,”—But what are we to enquire and ask for? Why, for the old paths-for that Way, Truth, and Life, which ever has been and ever will be alone "good"-the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. People sometimes think or speak as if they thought that religious knowledge and religious practice may make progress in the same sort of way that arts and sciences do. But we should remember, that religion deals with individuals rather than with what are called masses of people, that every single person's eternal condition is of great price, and so considered and treated by ALMIGHTY GOD, that He deals with us separately and tenderly, (so to say,) and not in that wide heartless general way, in which human schemes of improvement are carried on.

And possibly this may apply even to religious societies for missionary and other purposes: by generalizing so much, they deaden the feelings, and whilst we think what a great thing it is to have a hand in converting millions of heathens, we forget some poor miserable, not heathen, but worse than heathen outcast, close by our own door.

I say this caution applies to all religious societies except the heavenly society-the Church; for that reaches large numbers only through individuals; it takes each child separately as it were in its arms in baptism, and commits each separately to the grave with solemn prayer. There is nothing meant to be done in the Church in a hurrying way, but all with tender regard to each lamb of the flock individually and separately. And I mention