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； when did God ever fail to keep His word？ Never。 What He has
said； He has always done； and what He has spoken； He has always made
good。 Did He fail to keep His word at the flood？No。 Did He fail with
Sodom and Gomorrah？No。 Did He fail with unbelieving Jerusalem？No。
Has He failed with the Jews up to this very hour？No。 He has never
failed to fulfil His word。 Take care； lest you be found amongst those
by whom God's Word is despised。
：Never laugh at religion。 Never make a jest of sacred things。 Never
mock those who are serious and in earnest about their souls。 The time
may e when you will count those happy whom you laughed at；a time
when your laughter will be turned into sorrow； and your mockery into
heaviness。
（5） Another danger to young men is the fear of man's opinion。
〃The fear of man〃 does indeed 〃bring a snare〃 （Prov。 29：25）。 It is
terrible to observe the power which it has over most minds； and
especially over the minds of the young。 Few seem to have any opinions
of their own； or to think for themselves。 Like dead fish； they go with
the stream and tide： what others think right； they think right； and
what others call wrong； they call wrong too。 There are not many
original thinkers in the world。 Most men are like sheep； they follow a
leader。 If it was the fashion of the day to be Romanists； they would be
Romanists；if to be Mahometans； they would be Mahometans。 They dread
the idea of going against the current of the times。 In a word； the
opinion of the day bees their religion； their creed； their Bible；
and their God。
The thought； 〃What will my friends say or think of me？〃 nips many a
good inclination in the bud。 The fear of being observed upon； laughed
at； ridiculed； prevents many a good habit being taken up。 There are
Bibles that would be read this very day； if the owners dared。 They know
they ought to read them； but they are afraid： 〃 What will people
say？〃 There are knees that would be bent in prayer this very night； but
the fear of man forbids it：〃What would my wife； my brother； my
friend； my panion say； if they saw me praying？〃 Alas； what wretched
slavery this is； and yet how mon！ 〃I feared the people；〃 said Saul
to Samuel： and so he transgressed the mandment of the Lord （1 Sam。
15：24）。 〃I am afraid of the Jews；〃 said Zedekiah； the graceless king of
Judah： and so he disobeyed the advice which Jeremiah gave him （Jer。
38：19）。 Herod was afraid of what his guests would think of him： so he
did that which made him 〃exceeding sorry；〃he beheaded John the
Baptist。 Pilate feared offending the Jews： so he did that which he knew
in his conscience was unjust； he delivered up Jesus to be crucified。 If
this be not slavery； what is？
Young men； I want you all to be free from this bondage。 I want you each
to care nothing for man's opinion； when the path of duty is clear。
Believe me； it is a great thing to be able to say 〃No！〃 Here was