the dead our Lord Jesus, make you perfect in every good work, to do his will ; working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ ! to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen1."]
1 Heb. xiii. 20, 21.
Ps. cxix. 9. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way ? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.
THERE is much despondency in the human mind, especially in reference to the great work of sanctifi- cation. There are many who wish to become holy ; but they know not how : they would mortify sin ; but they cannot : they would serve God in newness of life ; but to attempt it, appears to them a hopeless task. The people of the world, if exhorted to give themselves up to God, do not hesitate to affirm that, in the existing state of things, it is impossible : and many who have begun to do this in their own strength, and found its insufficiency for so great a work, have given up in despair, and returned to their former state of carelessness and indifference. But, whilst we acknowledge the impossibility of serving God aright by any strength of our own, we must deny that it is altogether impracticable to fulfil his will. On the contrary, if any man ask, " Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" we are prepared to answer, that it may be done, " by taking heed thereto, ac- cording to God's word."
We have here, I. A difficulty proposed —
" How shall a young man cleanse his way ?"
If this question were asked in reference only to outivard defilements, it would not be without its diffi- culties—
[Consider to what temptations a young man is exposed.
Those which arise from within, are exceeding great
And they are continually strengthened by those occurring from without. Every thing he sees around him has a tendency to
696.] god's word the means of sanctification. 303
foster and to gratify some bad passion ; whilst the examples on every side countenance and encourage the indulgence of it. To render evil the less formidable, every one agrees to strip it of its proper names, and to affix to it some gentle appellation that shall conceal its odiousness, and cast a veil over its defor- mity. Nay, as if it were not sufficient to cloke its malignity, many become its panders and its advocates, and endeavour to laugh out of the world all that squeamishness that betrays a fear of evil, and an aversion to the commission of it. Is it any wonder if young men, so circumstanced, fall into sin ? or is it easy for them to keep their garments clean in such an ensnaring and polluting world as this ? ]
But if the question be asked in reference to the sanctity which God requires, the difficulty will appear great indeed —
[It is not a Pharisaic righteousness, a cleansing of the outside of the cup and platter, that God requires, but real holiness, both of heart and life. We must seek to be " cleansed from secret faults," as well as from those which are more open ; and never account our end fully accomplished, till we are " pure as the Lord Jesus Christ is pure," and " perfect as our Father which is in heaven is perfect." But how shall a young man so cleanse his way? How shall he " mortify the whole body of sin," keeping in subjection so many unruly appetites, correcting so many unhallowed dispositions, and putting forth into constant exercise so many heavenly graces as are comprehended in real piety? Indeed, we may ask, How shall young persons of either sex so walk before God? In respect of outward decorum, females, from the restraints of education, have a great advantage : perhaps, in reference to vital godliness also, they may be considered as more favoured than the other sex, because they have more opportunity for serious reflection. But real piety is uncongenial with our fallen nature ; and to attain it is no easy task to any, of either sex, or of whatever age or quality or condition. The very names by which the divine life is described in Scripture suffi- ciently shew that it is neither attained nor exercised without great difficulty. A " race," a " wrestling for the mastery," a " warring of a good warfare," all require much exertion ; and not for a moment only, but till the victory is accomplished. It must be confessed, therefore, that a young man's course is very difficult ; that " strait is the gate, and narrow is the way," in which he has to walk ; and that if ever he gain " the kingdom of heaven, he must take it by violence."]