and condition. To the aged men and aged women many important hints were to be offered ; as to the young women also, through the medium of the ma- trons. In every one of these, sobriety of mind bears a part^ : but in the instructions which he is to give to young men, it comprehends the whole ; since, if they be thoroughly imbued with that, it will form their whole character agreeably to the mind of God. I shall not, however, so confine my observations to the one sex as to overlook the other, but shall address myself indiscriminately to youth in general. And in doing this, I will,
I. Shew whence it is that young people need this particular counsel —
1. They are inexperienced as to the world —
[The world, in the eyes of youth, looks fair, and pro- mises much happiness to those who will worship at its shrine. Its allurements are set forth on every side ; and its votaries are everywhere inviting us to participate their delights. But its choicest flowers conceal a thorn ; its sweetest draughts are impregnated with poison. Of all that it contains, there is not any thing that is capable of affording any permanent satisfac- tion : on every thing in it is stamped, in characters that are indelible, this humiliating inscription, " Vanity and vexation of spirit." Over this, however, is hung a veil, which time and experience alone are, for the most part, able to remove. What wonder then is it, if youth, who see nothing but the outward garb of the world, admire its glittering vanities, and give them- selves to the pursuit of its empty shadows ? What wonder, if, after having got a taste of its delusive pleasux'es, they suppose, of course, that the harvest will correspond with the first-fruits? But the event never justifies the expectation. To none did the world ever yet prove a satisfying portion : and therefore, in the commencement of their course, the counsel in the text is necessary for every child of man.]
2. They are but little acquainted with their own hearts —
[They take credit to themselves for meaning well: and they do perhaps, on the whole, mean well : entertaining no deliberate purpose to offend either God or man. But they are
^ ver. 2, awippot'cic : ver. 4, aitxppovii^wcn : ver. 5, rruxpporac : ver. 6, nwcppoi'uy.