there are many like him。
Young men； I beseech you earnestly； beware of pride。 Two things are
said to be very rare sights in the world； one is a young man humble；
and the other is an old man content。 I fear this saying is only too
true。
Be not proud of your own abilities； your own strength；your own
knowledge；your own appearance； your own cleverness。 Be not proud of
yourself； and your endowments of any kind。 It all es from not
knowing yourself and the world。 The older you grow； and the more you
see； the less reason you will find for being proud。 Ignorance and
inexperience are the pedestal of pride； once let the pedestal be
removed； and pride will soon e down。
Remember how often Scripture sets before us the excellence of a humble
spirit。 How strongly we are warned 〃not to think of ourselves more
highly than we ought to think〃！ （Rom。 12：3）。 How plainly we are told；
〃If any man think that he knoweth anything； he knoweth nothing yet as
he ought to know 〃！ （1 Cor。 8：2）。 How strict is the mand； 〃 Put on
humbleness of mind〃！ （Col。 3：12）。 And again； 〃Be clothed with humility〃
（1 Pet。 5：5）。 Alas； this is a garment of which many seem not to have so
much as a rag。
Think of the great example our Lord Jesus Christ leaves us in this
respect。 He washed the feet of His disciples； saying； 〃Ye should do as
I have done to you〃 （John 13：15）。 It is written； 〃Though He was rich；
yet for your sakes He became poor〃 （2 Cor。 8：9）。 And again； 〃He made
Himself of no reputation； and took upon Him the form of a servant； and
was made in the likeness of men； and being found in fashion as a man；
He humbled Himself〃 （Phil。 2：7…8）。 Surely to be proud is to be more
like the devil and fallen Adam； than like Christ。 Surely it can never
be mean and low…spirited to be like Him。
Think of the wisest man that ever livedI mean Solomon。 See how he
speaks of himself as a 〃little child；〃as one who 〃knew not how to go
out or e in；〃 or manage for himself （1 Kings 3：7…8）。 That was a very
different spirit from his brother Absalom's； who thought himself equal
to anything： 〃Oh that I were made judge in the land； that every man
which hath any suit or cause might e unto me； and I would do him
justice〃 （2 Sam。 15：4）。 That was a very different spirit from his
brother Adonijah's； who 〃exalted himself； saying； I will be king〃 （1
Kings 1：5）。 Humility was the beginning of Solomon's wisdom。 He writes
it down as his own experience； 〃Seest thou a man wise in his own
conceit？ there is more hope of a fool than of him〃 （Prov。 26：12）。
Young men； lay to heart the Scriptures here quoted。 Do not be too
confident in your own judgment。 Cease to be sure that you are always
right； and others wrong。 Be distrustful of your own opinion； when you
find it contrary to that of older men than yourselves； and specially to
that of your own parents。 Age gives experience； and therefore deserves
respect。 It is a mark of Elihu's wisdom； in the book of Job； that 〃he
waited till Job had spoken； because they were older than himself〃 （Job
32：4）。 And afterwards he said； 〃I am young； and you are very old；
wherefore I was afraid； and durst not show you mine opinion。 I said；
Days should speak； and multitude of years should teach wisdom〃 （Job
32：6…7）。 Modesty and silence are beautiful graces in young people。
Never be ashamed of being a learner： Jesus was one at twelve years；
when He was found in the temple； He was 〃sitting in the midst of the
doctors； both hearing them； and asking them questions〃 （Luke 2：46）。 The
wisest men would tell you they are always learners； and are humbled to
find after all how little they know。 The great Sir Isaac Newton used to
say that he felt himself no better than a little child； who had picked
up a few precious stones on the shore of the sea of knowledge。
Young men； if you would be wise； if you would be happy； remember the
warning I give you； Beware of pride。
（2） Another danger to young men is the love of pleasure。
Youth is the time when our passions are strongest；and like unruly
children； cry most loudly for indulgence。 Youth is the time when we
have generally most health and strength： death seems far away； and to
enjoy ourselves in this life seems everything。 Youth is the time when
most people have few earthly cares or anxieties to take up their
attention。 And all these things help to make young men think of nothing
so much as pleasure。 〃I serve lusts and pleasures：〃 that is the true
answer many a young man should give； if asked； 〃Whose servant are you？〃
Young men； time would fail me if I were to tell you all the fruits this
love of pleasure produces； and all the ways in which it may do you
harm。 Why should I speak of revelling； feasting； drinking； gambling；
theatre…going； dancing； and the like？ Few are to be found who do not
know something of these things by bitter experience。 And these are only
instances。 All things that give a feeling of excitement for the
time；all things that drown thought； and keep the mind in a constant
whirl；all things that please the senses and gratify the flesh；these
are the sort of things that have mighty power at your time of life； and
they owe their power to the love of pleasure。 Be on your guard。 Be not
like those of whom Paul speaks； 〃Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of
God〃 （2 Tim。 3：4）。
Remember what I say： if you would cleave to earthly pleasures； these
are the things which murder souls。 There is no surer way to get a
seared conscience and a hard impenitent heart； than to give way to the
desires of the flesh and mind。 It seems nothing at first； but it tells
in the long run。
Consider what Peter says： 〃Abstain from fleshly lusts； which war
against the soul〃 （1 Pet。 2：11）。 They destroy the soul's peace； break
down its strength； lead it into hard captivity； make it a slave。
Consider what Paul says： 〃Mortify your members which are upon the
earth〃 （Col。 3：5）。 〃They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh；
with its affections and lusts〃 （Gal。 5：24）。 〃I keep under my body； and
bring it into subjection〃 （1 Cor。 9：27）。 Once the body was a perfect
mansion of the soul； m now it is all corrupt and disordered； and needs
constant watching。 It is a burden to the soul；not a helpmeet； a
hindrance； not an assistance。 It may bee a useful servant； but it
is always a bad master。
Consider； again； the words of Paul： 〃Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ；
and make not provision for the flesh； to fulfil the lusts thereof〃
（Rom。 13：14）。 〃These；〃 says Leighton； 〃are the words； the very reading
of which so wrought with Augustine； that from a licentious young man he
turned a faithful servant of Jesus Christ。〃 Young men； I wish this
might be the case with all of you。
Remember； again； if you will cleave to earthly pleasures； they are all
unsatisfying； empty； and vain。 Like the locusts of the vision in
Revelation； they seem to have crowns on their heads： but like the same
locusts； you will find they have stings；real stings；in their tails。
All is not gold that glitters。 All is not good that tastes sweet。 All
is not real pleasure that pleases for a time。
Go and take your fill of earthly pleasures if you will； you will never
find your heart satisfied with them。 There will always be a voice
within； crying； like the horse…leech in the Proverbs； 〃Give； give！〃
There is an empty place there； which nothing but God can fill。 You will
find； as Solomon did by experience； that earthly pleasures are but a
vain show；vanity and vexation of spirit；whited sepulchres； fair to
look at without； full of ashes and corruption within。 Better be wise in
time。 Better write 〃poison〃 on all earthly pleasures。 The most lawful
of them must be used with moderation。 All of them are soul…destroying
if you give them your heart。 ＇25＇
And here I will not shrink from warning all young men to remember the
seventh mandment； to beware of adultery and fornication； of all
impurity of every kind。 I fear there is often a want of plain speaking
on this part of God's law。 But when I see how prophets and Apostles
have dealt with this subject；when I observe the open way in which the
Reformers of our own Church denounce it；when I see the number of
young men who walk in the footsteps of Reuben； and Hophni； and
Phinehas； and Amnon；I for one cannot； with a good conscience； hold my
peace。 I doubt whether the world is any better for the excessive
silence which prevails upon this mandment。 For my own part； I feel
it would be false and unscriptural delicacy； in addressing young men；
not to speak of that which is pre…eminently 〃the young man's sin。〃
The breach of the seventh mandment is the sin above all others；
that； as Hosea says； 〃takes away the heart〃 （Hos。 4：11）。 It is the sin
that leaves deeper scars upon the soul than any sin that a man can
mit。 It is a sin that slays its thousands in ever