of Satan's spiritual dominion over young people, which, are quite as painful, in their way, as the case described in this passage. There are thousands of young men who seem to have wholly given themselves up to Satan's temptations, and to be led captive at his will. They cast off all fear of God, and all respect for His command- ments. They serve divers lusts and pleasures. They run wildly into every excess of riot. They refuse to listen to the advice of parents, teachers, or ministers. They fling aside all regard for health, character, or worldly respectability. They do all that lies in their power to ruin themselves, body and soul, for time and eternity. They are willing bondslaves of Satan. — Who has not seen such young men ? They are to be seen in town and in country. They are to be found among rich and among poor. Surely such young men give mournful j)roof, that although Satan now-a-days seldom has pos- session of man's body, he still exercises a fearful dominion over some men's souls.
Yet even about such young men as these, be it remem- bered, we must never despair. We must call to mind the almighty power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Bad as this boy's case was, of whom we read in these verses, he was " cured from the very hour" that he was brought to Christ ! Parents, and teachers, and ministers should go on praying for young men, even at their worst. Hard as their hearts seem now, they may yet be softened. Desperate as their wickedness now appears, they may yet be healed. They may yet repent, and be converted, like John Newton, and their last state prove better than their first. Who can tell ? Let it be a settled principle