SERMON XIX.

On the Chriftian Characters of Youth.

2 Cor. vi. 17, 18. vii. 1.

Come out from among them, and be ye fepa rate, faith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my fons and daughters, faith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore thefe promises, dearly beloved; let us cleanfe ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and fpirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

THE Chriftian graces of piety, docility,

and reverence for age, together with the leading obligations into which selfgovernment is ramified, were investigated in the preceding difcourfe with efpecial regard to their influence on the conduct of youth. May the guidance of the Holy Spirit direct, and His bleffing profper, our

inquiries

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inquiries into feveral branches of duty, which remain to be examined with a fimilar reference.

V. With felf-government difcretion is intimately connected. Each borrows aid from the other, and lends reciprocal affiftance. If, in proportion as difcretion influences the character, the path is smoothed for the exercife of felf-command; in proportion likewife as fober-mindednefs and forbearance produce experimental effects on the conduct, the difcriminating powers of difcretion are ftrengthened, and the exertion of them is rendered prompt, eafy, and determinate. To give to the young man difcretion, was an object which occupied the heart of the wifeft of men. My fon, keep found wisdom and difcretion. Difcretion shall preferve thee, and fhall be life unto thy foul. Let the aged teach young women to be dif creet. I will that the younger women give none occafion to the adverfary to speak reproachfully (a). Such are the precepts of the Moft High. What confummate, what truly fcriptural, difcretion, was manifefted by the incarnate Son of God, when he repelled the tempter in the wilderness; and

(a) Prov. i. 4. ii. 11. iii. 21, 22, v. 14.

Tit, ii. 5.

1 Tim.

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when he turned afide the enfnaring queftions of his enemies! Be yours the wif dom of the ferpent with the harmlessness of the dove. Difcretion neither recommends immoderate fufpicion; nor trenches on candid fimplicity and ingenuous opennefs; nor authorifes the smallest deviation from the path of fincerity. But, as including vigilant and cautious deliberation, it imposes a curb on the natural precipitance of the young requires them to examine ere they choose; to understand before they decide; to distinguish between qualities in fome points fimilar; to prefer a fubftance to a shadow, an enduring to a tranfient enjoyment, a great good though remote to a trifling acquifition at hand. It regulates words no less than actions; inculcates feasonable filence; enjoins composure of deportment; upholds ferenity of mind. How many unguarded fpeeches, how many rath compliances, how many unwife engagements, how many difputes, misconceptions, offences, and animofities, subjects all of fubfequent and unavailing anxiety, would difcretion have precluded! How many wasted opportunities of prudent remark, of salutary advice, of active usefulnefs, would difcretion have feized! Difcretion exacts a rational appropriation of VOL. II. Dd time,

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time, and a judicious felcction of employ It profcribes noxious and trifling books; and, among the diverfity of improving ftudies, directs your eye to those which, according to your ftation, promise the largest portion of defirable fruit. It forbids eagernefs and curiofity to exhaust the powers of youth in boundless excurfions throughout the regions of learning: and inftructs you to limit your pursuit to objects not furpaffing your grafp by their number or by their magnitude. Again and again it founds in your ear the danger of evil communication: warns you that amiable feelings give no affurance of religion: that alluring manners may veil a profligate heart: that wit compenfates not for vice, nor gay cheerfulness for indifference to piety. It reminds you that all the delight of the Pfalmift was in fuch as excelled in virtue; that he was a companion to them that feared God; that men will form their judgement concerning you from the character of thofe with whom you affociate: and that, according to the natural propenfity of your heart to evil and the powerful contagion of corrupt example, an unfavourablé judgement, if at prefent premature, will probably be verified.

VI. In the general deportment and con-" duct of fociety the young receive a peculiar

measure of benevolent attention. Their minds too have not as yet forgotten early leffons and habits of compliance: nor loft' the warmth of affection or of fanguine credulity amidst protracted experience of hypocrify and selfishnefs. Hence the Chriftian duty of benevolence urges its demands on youth with greater pofitive advantages, and in the face of fewer obftacles, than exist in maturer life. If the world, tolerant as it may be where age has chilled the feelings of fympathy, and caution has chained the hand of liberality, regards youthful malignity and youthful unkindnefs, and even youthful apathy with deteftation: with what eyes fhall God, who pronounces the want of benevolence utterly unchriftian in any period, behold it in the young? Though the relief of the diftreffed by pecuniary affiftance, or by thofe comforts which money can purchase, is fo far from conftituting the fubftance of benevolence, that you may beftow all your goods to feed the poor and be totally devoid of Chriftian charity; it is yet one of the fruits which true benevolence cannot but render. If any man bath this world's good, and feeth his brother have need, and fhutteth up his bowels of compaffion from him;