Oh do you all, young people especially, think of this. As you grow
up and go out into life, you will be tempted in a hundred different
ways, by things which are pleasant--everyone knows that they are
pleasant enough--but wrong. One will be tempted to be vain of dress;
another to be self-conceited; another to be lazy and idle; another to
be extravagant and roving; another to be over fond of amusement;
another to be over fond of money; another to be over fond of liquor;
another to go wrong, as too many young men and young women do, and
bring themselves, and those with whom they keep company, and whom
they ought, if they really love them, to respect and honour, down
into sin and shame. You will all be tempted, and you will all be
troubled; one by poverty, one by sickness, one by the burden of a
family, one by being laughed at for trying to do right. But
remember, oh remember, whenever a temptation comes upon you, that the
blessed Jesus has been through it all, and conquered all, and that
His will is, that you shall be holy and pure like Him, and that,
therefore, if you but ask Him, He will give you strength to keep
pure. When you are tempted, pray to Him: the struggle in your own
minds will, no doubt, be very great; it will be very hard work for
you--sin looks so pleasant on the outside! Poor souls, it is a sad
struggle for you! Many a poor young fellow, who goes wrong, deserves
rather to be pitied than to be punished. Well then, if no man else
will pity him, Jesus, the Man of all men, will. Pray to Him! Cry
aloud to Him! Ask Him to make you stout-hearted, patient, really
manful, to fight against temptation. Ask Him to give you strength of
mind to fight against all bad habits. Ask Him to open your eyes to
see when you are in danger. Ask Him to help you to keep out of the
way of temptation. Ask Him, in short, to give you grace to use such
abstinence that your flesh may be subdued to your spirit. And then