1：31）。 And what is man now？A fallen creature； a ruin； a being that
shows the marks of corruption all over； his heart like Nebuchadnezzar；
degraded and earthly； looking down and not up；his affections like a
household in disorder； calling no man master； all extravagance and
confusion；his understanding like a lamp flickering in the socket；
impotent to guide him； not knowing good from evil；his will like a
rudderless ship； tossed to and fro by every desire； and constant only
in choosing any way rather than God's。 Alas； what a wreck is man；
pared to what he might have been！ Well may we understand such
figures being used as blindness； deafness； disease； sleep； death； when
the Spirit has to give us a picture of man as he is。 And mail as he is；
remember； was so made by sin。
Think； too； what it has cost to make atonement for sin； and to provide
a pardon and forgiveness for sinners。 God's own Son must e into the
world； and take upon Him our nature； in order to pay the price of our
redemption； and deliver us from the curse of a broken law。 He who was
in the beginning with the Father； and by whom all things were made；
must suffer for sin the just for the unjust；must die the death of a
malefactor； before the way to heaven can be laid open to any soul。 See
the Lord Jesus Christ despised and rejected of men； scourged； mocked；
and insulted；behold Him bleeding on the cross of Calvary；hear Him
crying in agony； 〃My God； My God； why hast Thou forsaken Me？〃 mark how
the sun was darkened； and the rocks rent at the sight；…and then
consider； young men； what must be the evil and guilt of sin。
Think； also； what sin has done already upon the earth。 Think how it
cast Adam and Eve out of Eden；brought the flood upon the old world；
caused fire to e down on Sodom and Gomorrah； drowned Pharaoh and his
host in the Red Sea； destroyed the seven wicked nations of Canaan；
scattered the twelve tribes of Israel over the face of the globe。 Sin
alone did all this。
Think； moreover； of all the misery and sorrow that sin has caused； and
is causing at this very day。 Pain； disease； and death； strifes；
quarrels； and divisions； envy； jealousy； and malice； deceit； fraud； and
cheating； violence； oppression； and robbery； selfishness； unkindness；
and ingratitude； all these are the fruits of sin。 Sin is the parent of
them all。 Sin it is that has so marred and spoiled the face of God's
creation。
Young men； consider these things； and you will not wonder that we
preach as we do。 Surely； if you did but think of them； you would break
with sin for ever。 Will you play with poison？ Will you sport with hell？
Will you take fire in your hand？ Will you harbour your deadliest enemy
in your bosom？ Will you go on living as if it mattered nothing whether
your own sins were forgiven or not； whether sin had dominion over you；
or you over sin？ Oh； awake to a sense of sin's sinfulness and danger！
Remember the words of Solomon： 〃Fools；〃 none but fools； 〃make a mock at
sin〃 （Prov。 14：9）。
Hear； then； the request that I make of you this day；pray that God
would teach you〃 the real evil of sin。 As you would have your soul
saved； arise and pray。
（2） For another thing； seek to bee acquainted with our Lord Jesus
Christ。
This is； indeed； the principal thing in religion。 This is the
corner…stone of Christianity。 Till you know this； my warnings and
advice will be useless； and your endeavours； whatever they may be； will
be in vain。 A watch without a mainspring is not more unserviceable than
is religion without Christ。
But let me not be misunderstood。 It is not the mere knowing Christ's
name that I mean；it is the knowing His mercy； grace； and power； the
knowing Him not by the hearing of the ear； but by the experience of
your hearts。 I want you to know Him by faith；I want you； as Paul
says； to know 〃the power of His resurrection； being made conformable
unto His death〃 （Phil。 3：10）。 I want you to be able to say of Him； He
is my peace and my strength； my life and my consolation； my Physician
and my Shepherd； my Saviour and my God。
Why do I make such a point of this？ I do it because in Christ alone
〃all fulness dwells〃 （Col。 1：19）；because in Him alone there is full
supply of all that we require for the necessities of our souls。 Of
ourselves we are all poor； empty creatures；…empty of righteousness
and peace；empty of strength and fort； …empty of courage and
patience；…empty of power to stand； or go on； or make progress in this
evil world。 It is in Christ alone that all these things are to be
found； grace； peace； wisdom； righteousness； sanctification； and
redemption。 It is just in proportion as we bye upon Him； that we are
strong Christians。 It is only when self is nothing and Christ is all
our confidence； it is then only that we shall do great exploits。 Then
only are we armed for the battle of life； and shall overe。 Then only
are we prepared for the journey of life； and shall get forward。 To live
on Christ into draw all from Christ；to do all in the strength of
Christ；to be ever looking unto Christ；this is the true secret of
spiritual prosperity。 〃I can do all things；〃 says Paul； 〃through Christ
which strengtheneth me 〃 （Phil。 4：13）。
Young men； I set before you Jesus Christ this day； as the treasury of
your souls； and I invite you to begin by going to Him； if you would so
run as to obtain。 Let this be your first step；go to Christ。 Do you
want to consult friends？He is the best friend： 〃a friend that
sticketh closer than a brother〃 （Prov。 18：24）。 Do you feel unworthy
because of your sins？ Fear not： His blood cleanseth from all sin。 He
says； 〃Though your sins be as scarlet； they shall be as white as snow：
though they be red like crimson； they shall be as wool〃 （Isa。 1：18）。 Do
you feel weak； and unable to follow Him？Fear not： He will Eve you
power to bee sons of God。 He will give you the Holy Ghost to dwell
in you； and seal you for His own； a new heart will He give you； and a
new spirit will He put within you。 Are you troubled or beset with
peculiar infirmities？Fear not： there is no evil spirit that Jesus
cannot cast out；there is no disease of soul that He cannot heal。 Do
you feel doubts and fears？Cast them aside： 〃 e unto Me；〃 He says；
〃him that eth I will in no wise cast out。〃 He knows well the heart
of a young man。 He knows your trials and your temptations； your
difficulties and your foes。 In the days of His flesh He was like
yourselves；a young man at Nazareth。 He knows by experience a young
man's mind。 He can be touched with the feeling of your infirmities；…
for He suffered Himself； being tempted。 Surely you will be without
excuse if you turn away from such a Saviour and Friend as this。
Hear the request I make of you this day；…if you love life； seek to
bee acquainted with Jesus Christ。
（3） For another thing； never forget that nothing is so important as
your soul。
Your soul is eternal。 It will live for ever。 The world and all that it
contains shall pass away；firm； solid； beautiful； well…ordered as it
is； the world shall e to an end。 〃The earth and the works that are
therein shall be burned up〃 （2 Pet。 3：10）。 The works of statesmen；
writers； painters； architects； are all short…lived： your soul will
outlive them all。 The angel's voice shall proclaim one day； that 〃Time
shall be no longer〃 （Rev。 10：6）。But that shall never be said of your
souls。
Try； I beseech you； to realize the fact； that your soul is the one
thing worth living for。 It is the part of you which ought always to be
first considered。 No place； no employment is good for you； which
injures your soul。 No friend； no panion deserves your confidence；
who makes light of your soul's concerns。 The man who hurts your person；
your property； your character； does you but temporary harm。 He is the
true enemy who contrives to damage your soul。
Think for a moment what you were sent into the world for。 Not merely to
eat and drink； and indulge the desires of the flesh；not merely to
dress out your body； and follow its lusts whithersoever they may lead
you；not merely to work； and sleep； and laugh； and talk； and enjoy
yourselves； and think of nothing but time。 No！ you were meant for
something higher and better than this。 You were placed here to train
for eternity。 Your body was only intended to be a house for your
immortal spirit。 It is flying in the face of God's purposes to do as
many do；to make the soul a servant to the body； and not the body a
servant to the soul。 ＇28＇
Young men； God is no respecter of persons。 He regards no man's coat； or
purse； or rank； or position。 He sees not with man's eyes。 The poorest
saint that ever died in a workhouse is nobler in His sight than the
richest sinner that ever died in a palace。 God does not look at riches；
titles； learning； beauty； or anything of the kind。 One thing only God
does look at； and that is the immortal soul。 He measures all men by one
standard； one measure； one test； one criterion； and that is the state
of their souls。
Do not forget this。 Keep in view； morning； noon； and night； the
interests of your soul。 Rise up each day desiring that it may
prosper；lie down each evening inquiring of yourself whether it has
really got on。 Remember Zeuxis； the great painter of old。 When men
asked him why he laboured so intensely； and took such extreme pains
with every picture； his simple answer was； 〃I paint for eternity。〃 Do
not be ashamed to be like him。 Set your immortal soul before your
mind's eye； and when men ask you why you live as you do； answer them in
his spirit； 〃I live for my soul。〃 Believe me； the day is fast ing
when the soul will be the one thing men will think of； and the only
question of importance will be this； 〃Is my soul lost or saved？〃
（4） For another thing； remember it is possible to be a young man and
ye