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
yet to serve God。
I fear the snares that Satan lays for you on this point。 I fear lest he
succeed in filling your minds with the vain notion； that to be a true
Christian in youth is impossible。 I have seen many carried away by this
delusion。 I have heard it said； 〃You are requiring impossibilities in
expecting so much religion from young people。 Youth is no time for
seriousness。 Our desires are strong； and it was never intended that we
should keep them under； as you wish us to do。 God meant us to enjoy
ourselves。 There will be time enough for religion by and by。〃 And this
kind of talk is only too much encouraged by the world。 The world is
only too ready to wink at youthful sins。 The world appears to think it
a matter of course that young men must 〃sow their wild oats。〃 The world
seems to take it for granted young people must be irreligious； and that
it is not possible for them to follow Christ。
Young men； I will ask you this simple question；Where will you find
anything of all this in the Word of God？ Where is the chapter or verse
in the Bible which will support this talking and reasoning of the
world？ Does not the Bible speak to old and young alike； without
distinction？ Is not sin； sin； whether mitted at the age of twenty or
fifty？ Will it form the slightest excuse； in the day of judgment； to
say； 〃I know I sinned； but then I was young〃？ Show your mon sense； I
beg of you； by giving up such vain excuses。 You are responsible and
accountable to God from the very moment that you know right and wrong。
I know well there are many difficulties in a young man's way； I allow
it fully。 But there are always difficulties in the way of doing right。
The path to heaven is always narrow； whether we be young or old。
There are difficulties；…but God will give you grace to overe them。
God is no hard master。 He will not； like Pharaoh； require you to make
bricks without straw。 He will take care the path of plain duty is never
impossible。 He never laid mands on man which He would not give man
power to perform。
There are difficulties； but many a young man has overe them
hitherto； and so may you。 Moses was a young man of like passions with
yourselves；but see what is said of him in Scripture： 〃By faith Moses；
when he was e to age； refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's
daughter； choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God；
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season； esteeming the reproach
of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt： for he had
respect unto the repense of the reward〃 （Heb。 11：24…26）。 Daniel was
a young man when he began to serve God in Babylon。 He was surrounded by
temptations of every kind。 He had few with him； and many against him。
Yet Daniel's life was so blameless and consistent； that even his
enemies could find no fault in him； except 〃concerning the law of his
God〃 （Dan。 6：5）。 And these are not solitary cases。 There is a cloud of
witnesses whom I could name。 Time would fail me； if I were to tell you
of young Isaac； young Joseph； young Joshua； young Samuel； young David；
young Solomon； young Abijah； young Obadiah； young Josiah； young
Timothy。 These were not angels； but men； with hearts naturally like
your own。 They too had obstacles to contend with； lusts to mortify；
trials to endure； hard places to fill； like any of yourselves。 But
young as they were； they all found it possible to serve God。 Will they
not all rise in judgment and condemn you； if you persist in saying it
cannot be done？
Young men； try to serve God。 Resist the devil when he whispers it is
impossible。 Try；and the Lord God of the promises will give you
strength in the trying。 He loves to meet those who struggle to e to
Him； and He will meet you and give you the power that you feel you
need。 Be like the man whom Bunyan's Pilgrim saw in the Interpreter's
house；go forward boldly； saying； 〃Set down my name。〃 Those words of
our Lord are true； though I often hear them repeated by heartless and
unfeeling tongues： 〃Seek； and ye shall find； knock； and it shall be
opened unto you〃 （Matt。 7：7）。 Difficulties which seemed like mountains
shall melt away like snow in spring。 Obstacles which seemed like giants
in the mist of distance； shall dwindle into nothing when you fairly
face them。 The lion in the way which you fear； shall prove to be
chained。 If men believed the promises more； they would never be afraid
of duties。 But remember that little word I press upon you； and when
Satan says； 〃You cannot be a Christian while you are young：〃 answer
him； 〃Get thee behind me； Satan： by God's help I will try。〃
（5） For another thing； determine as tong as you live to make the Bible
your guide and adviser。
The Bible is God's merciful provision for sinful man's soul；the map
by which he must steer his course； if he would attain eternal life。 All
that we need to know； in order to make us peaceful； holy； or happy； is
there richly contained。 If a young man would know how to begin life
well； let him hear what David says： 〃Wherewithal shall a young man
cleanse his way？ by taking heed thereto according to Thy word〃 （Ps。
119：9）。
Young men； I 〃charge you to make a habit of reading the Bible； and not
to let the habit be broken。 Let not the laughter of panions；let
not the bad customs of the family you may live in；let none of these
things prevent your doing it。 Determine that you will not only have a
Bible； but also make time to read it too。 Suffer no man to persuade you
that it is only a book for Sunday…school children and old women。 It is
the book from which King David got wisdom and understanding。 It is the
book which young Timothy knew from his childhood。 Never be ashamed of
reading it。 Do not 〃despise the Word〃 （Prov。 13：13）。
Read it with prayer for the Spirit's grace to make you understand it
Bishop Beveridge says well； 〃A man may as soon read the letter of
Scripture without eyes； as understand the spirit of it without grace。〃
Read it reverently； as the Word of God； not of man；…believing
implicitly that what it approves is right； and what it condemns is
wrong。 Be very sure that every doctrine which will not stand the test
of Scripture is false。 This will keep you from being tossed to and fro；
and carried about by the dangerous opinions of these latter days。 Be
very sure that every practice in your life which is contrary to
Scripture； is sinful and must be given up。 This will settle many a
question of conscience； and cut the knot of many a doubt。 Remember how
differently two kings of Judah read the Word of God： Jehoiakim read it；
and at once cut the writing to pieces； and burned it on the fire （Jer。
36：23）。 And why？ Because his heart rebelled against it； and he was
resolved not to obey。 Josiah read it； and at once rent his clothes； and
cried mightily to the Lord （2 Chron。 34：19）。 And why？Because his
heart was tender and obedient。 He was ready to do anything which
Scripture showed him was his duty。 Oh that you may follow the last of
these two； and not the first！
And read it regularly。 This is the only way to bee 〃mighty in the
Scriptures。〃 A hasty glance at the Bible now and then does little good。
At that rate you will never bee familiar with its treasures； or feel
the sword of the Spirit fitted to your hand in the hour of conflict。
But get your mind stored with Scripture； by diligent reading； and you
will soon discover its value and power。 Texts will rise up in your
hearts in the moment of temptation。 mands will suggest themselves in
seasons of doubt。 Promises will e across your thoughts in the time
of discouragement。And thus you will experience the truth of David's
words； 〃Thy word have I hid in mine heart； that I might not sin against
Thee〃 （Ps。 119：11）； and of Solomon's words； 〃When thou goest； it shall
lead thee； when thou sleepest； it shall keep thee； and when thou
awakest； it shall talk with thee〃 （Prov。 6：22）。
I dwell on these things more because this is an age of reading。 Of
making many books there seems no end； though few of them are really
profitable。 There seems a rage for cheap printing and publishing。
Newspapers of every sort abound； and the tone of some； which have the
widest circulation； tells badly for the taste of the age。 Amidst the
flood of dangerous reading； I plead for my Master's book；I call upon
you not to forget the book of the soul。 Let not newspapers； novels； and
romances be read； while the prophets and Apostles are despised。 Let not
the exciting and licentious swallow up your attention； while the
edifying and the sanctifying can find no place in your mind。
Young men； give the Bible the honour due to it every day you live。
Whatever you read； read that first。 And beware of bad books： there are
plenty in this day。 Take heed what you read。 I suspect there is more
harm done to souls in this way than most people have an idea is
possible。 Value all books in proportion as they are agreeable to
Scripture。 Those that are nearest to it are the best； and those that
are farthest from it； and most contrary to it； the worst。
（6） For another thing； never make an intimate friend of any one who is
not a friend of God。
Understand me；I do not speak of acquaintances。 I do not mean that you
ought to have nothing to do with any but true Christians。 To take such
a line is neither possible nor desirable in this world。 Christianity
requires no man to be uncourteous。
But I do advise you to be very careful in your choice of friends。 Do
not open all your heart to a man merely because he is clever；
agreeable； good…natured； high…spirited； and kind。 These things are all
very well in their way； but they are not everything； Never be satisfied
w