youth, and let your hearts cheer you in the days of your youth, and
walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes. But
remember," continues the wisest of men,--"remember, that for all
these things God shall bring you into judgment." Now do not
misunderstand that. It does not mean that there is a sin in being
happy. It does not mean, that if God has given to a young man a
bold spirit and powerful limbs, or to a young woman a handsome face
and a merry, loving heart, that He will punish them for these--God
forbid! what He gives He means to be used: but this it means, that
according as you use those blessings so will you be judged at the
last day; that for them, too, you will be brought to judgment, and
tried at the bar of God. As you have used them for industry, and
innocent happiness, and holy married love, or for riot and
quarrelling, and idleness, and vanity, and filthy lusts, so shall
you be judged. And if any of you have sinned in any of these ways,--
God forbid that you should have sinned in ALL these ways; but
surely, surely, some of you have been idle--some of you have been
riotous--some of you have been vain--some of you have been
quarrelsome--some of you, alas! have been that which I shall not
name here.--Think, if you have sinned in any one of these ways, how
can you answer it to God? Have you no need of forgiveness? Have
you no need of the blessed Saviour's blood to wash you clean? Young
people! God has given you much. As a young man, I speak to you.
Youth is an inestimable blessing or an inestimable curse, according
as you use it; and if you have abused your spring-time of youth, as
all, I am afraid, have--as I have--as almost all do, alas! in this
fallen world, where can you get forgiveness but from Him that died
on the cross to take away the sins of the world?