1. Some more general —
[The first point that I would press on your attention is, to get your souls deeply imbued with the concerns of eternity. If the concerns of time have the ascendant in your hearts, there can be no hope of your ever being sober-minded, because your views and dispositions are radically wrong. You are immortal beings ; and must never forget, that in a few more hours you will be standing at the tribunal of your Judge, and be consigned by him, for ever, either to heaven or to hell. If that be kept out of sight, every species of delusion will be harboured in the mind, and will reign without con- troul ■
But it is not a general conviction that will suffice. No : you must pray to God to guide you in every step of your way. So " deceitful is sin," and so " desperately wicked is the heart," that no human care can preserve you. It is God alone that can keep the feet of his saints. Had you all the zeal of Peter, you might, in a time of trial, deny your Lord, and dissemble with your God. To your latest hour you must entreat of God to guide you; for "it is not in man that walketh^to direct his paths ;" and, in every step you take, you must say, " Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe"
You must also he diligent in studying the word of God. There is something very imposing in the maxims of the world ; and you will easily be misled by them. But the word of God must be your rule : it must be the one touchstone, by which you are to try every sentiment and every practice. You must take the sublimest precepts of Holy Writ, and set before you the brightest examples that are there exhibited: you must behold an Abraham sacrificing his only son at the command of God ; and a Moses giving up all the treasures of Egypt, that he might participate affliction with the people of God. You must follow the Apostle Paul in all his diversified scenes of trial ; and see what spirit he manifested, what conduct he pursued. Above all, you must contemplate your blessed Lord and Saviour in every step which he took whilst sojourning in this polluted world. It is in this way that you must attain sobriety of mind. The world will call these things en- thusiasm: but, whatever the world may say or think, your wisdom is to " be conformed to Christ," and to " walk in all things as he walked."]
2. Others more particular — [General rules will scarcely suffice to mark with sufficient accuracy the counsel in my text. I would therefore descend to a few particulars ; and say, Consider what becomes you in your place and station. There are particular duties assigned to different situations: to you who are in earlier life, the
94 TITUS, II. a [2262.
virtues of modesty, and diffidence, and submission, are of prime importance. Nothing is more hateful than conceit and waywardness in the youthful mind. The younger are especially commanded to be in subjection to the elder, and especially to those elders who are placed by God in authority over us : and, wherever there is sobriety of mind, there will be a willing obedience to all lawful authority, and a diligent performance of every appointed duty. Humility, respect, and deference to the judgment of superiors, are pre-eminently characteristic of a well-regulated mind.
I would also say, Co7isider, 071 every occasion, what im- pression your conduct is likely to make on others. This is on no account to be overlooked. An inattention to it is productive of incalculable evil. We are not at liberty to cast stumbling-blocks in the way of others. Religion of itself, however careful we may be, will be sufficiently offensive to the carnal mind, without having any thing added to it by our imprudence. We should guard, as much as possible, that "our good may not be evil spoken of:" and if, as must of necessity be the case, we are consti'ained in many things to act contrary to the wishes of those around us, we should seek to disarm their hostility by meekness and gentleness, and not to augment it by petulance and indiscretion.