infidel sophistry; consecrates every valuable attainment; and, while it represses all profane and hurtful speculation, furnishes to the inquiring mind themes on which the highest creaturely intellect has been blissfully engaged for thousands of years. Is it the path of honour and advantage ?-Christian holiness constitutes our security amid the perils of wealth and greatness; and instructs us to "make to ourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when we fail, they may receive us into everlasting habitations." (Luke xvi. 9.) Is it the path of trial and adversity?-Scriptural piety sustains us even in this rugged road; inspires victorious patience; and teaches us that "godli- ! ness with contentment is great gain; for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out;" này, that to us “it is given,”—as matter of privilege and divine bounty," in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake." (1 Tim. vi. 6, 7; Phil. i. 29.) Is it the path of duty in the various relations of life?-What but renewing grace can make that path at once attractive and holy? Love to God prompts the cheerful discharge of every duty to man; refines, exalts, and hallows every charity of life; stimulates the child to "obey his parents in the Lord, for this is right;" and the parent to "bring up" his children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; "the servant, to “bé obedient to them that are" his "masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of" his "heart, as unto Christ ;" and the master, to act under the influence of the constant recollection that his "Master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him." (Eph. vi. 1-9.)

The object proposed in the text is no less than a restoration to our forfeited innocence and glory; and the "cleansing" of every path of life;-a practical conformity to the summons, breaking from the throne of light, that, "as he which hath called us is holy," so we be “holy in all manner of conversation.” (1 Pet. î. 15.)

2. That the sanctification of the "way" is dependent on human concurrence with the grace of God.

To some of the preceding observations it is replied," The object is great and desirable; but it is dependent on the effusion of the purifying Spirit. This great Restorer is to be magnified; and we are to wait for his sovereign visitation."

We answer,-Everlasting glory "to the Lord the Spirit," who, by the finger of his almighty power, turns the heart from sin to God. His offices are, indeed, to repair the ruined temple of the human spirit, and to "create all things new." But who are unvisited with his preventing and sacred influence? What plea can we urge for inactivity? Why do we passively wait for overwhelming visitations of grace? Omnipotence being irrelevant to answerable mind, what could have been done more for the vineyard," that Jehovah has “ not done in it?" (Isai. v. 4.). do esagrop i» domk

1

1

Let all our energies be awakened by a consideration of our personal freedom and responsibility. According to the gracious economy, which secures for God all the honour of our salvation, the problem. depends on our own agency, Whether we shall everlastingly soar in heaven, or sink in hell? All eternity hangs on our choice. God says, "O son of man, wilt thou be holy here, and triumphant hereafter 2 Wilt thou admit to thy heart Jesus Christ, thy life, thy strength, thy beauty, thy righteousness?"

The sacred phraseology is to be carefully noticed. It enforces, with the utmost impressiveness, our duty in the great transaction. "Where withal shall a young man cleanse his way ?" "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthi ness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Cor. vii, 1.) How anxious, how sensitively awake, ought we to be! Let each one reflect,-I have a duty of tremendous importance to discharge. If it be done in the springtime of life, I shall reap glory for ever; if neglected, the thought of the bright opportunity foregone will be an immortal sting.

3. The inquiry of the Psalmist leads to the remark that, as is the excellence, so is the difficulty, of this attainment.

The unlimited extent of the work to be effected, is but one of many reflections which evince this truth. Often in affecting proportion to the estimation in which an object is held, is the arduous struggle for its possession. The blooming Canaan is not obtained without the toilsome pilgrimage in the desert, and the expulsion of the Anakim from the mountains of Hebron. The perils of warfare precede the peace and the brilliancy of conquest.

"Wherewithal," asks the Psalmist significantly, "shall a young man cleanse his way?" Nature, and "the course of this world."-"the pride of life," the indulgences of sense, and the rampant passion for liberty,-all resist the triumph of purity. The stratagems of Satan, and the untiring efforts of his visible and invisible allies, aggravate the difficulty of success. The friendship of the world, the lingerings of self-righteousness, the total tendency of our depraved humanity, throng the ranks of the opposition. Enemies around, enemies within, are to be subdued. A battle so fierce, never raged with the roar of artillery and "garments rolled in blood." How shall the unseen conflict be maintained to its triumphant issue? How shall the sacred task be accomplished? "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?".

&

Blessed be God, the provision is made. A fountain of purifying influence is unsealed. If man's renovation demands an almighty energy, do! relenting Omnipotence condescends to the work. If the hand that created the heavens and the earth is alone equal to create man anew, that hand moves in the beneficent undertaking ;) and, ah ! it bears the print of the nail! Jehovah Jesus comes in a bloody vest ture! Amid disclosures of love which amaze the intelligent universe,

God has done his part toward the blissful result. Ours requires every effort in our power. The votary of the Crescent toils through burning sands to Mecca. The Pagan offers gold and rubies, and even the "fruit of the body," in blind attempts to expiate "the sin of the soul." Christians, rival them in zeal and devotion! Calculating the greatness and difficulty of your vocation, emulate him who said, "I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments." (Psalm exix. 60.) Holiness merits the utmost exertion; immortality repays the sacrifice of all sublunary things. "Whatsoever" your "hand findeth to do, do it with" your "might." (Eccles, ix. 10.) By the glories of the world to come, by "the latest trumpet of the seven," let the long and guilty slumber of inactivity be terminated; and, "beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of" the most worthy Judge eternal" in peace, without spot, and blameless." (2 Pet. iii. 14.)

II. The most appropriate season for the pursuit of holiness, is inti mated in the text.

J

"A young man" is the subject of the inquiry; and, for the illus tration of this part of our theme, we may allude to the ADVANTAGES, to the PERILS, and to the HOPES, which characterize the early period of life.

1. Youth has its eminent advantages.

All ages have sung of its charms and enjoyments. It is the beauti ful morning, the vernal promise, the flowering season, of life. Who has not heard the sighs, and marked the miseries, of old age? Myriads have learned, too late, that sorrow and infirmity are most adverse to the duties of religion. Happy youth is the season for God. Under the law, the first-fruits and the first-born were consecrated; and why, O why, should not the brightest of our days be given to the sovereign Benefactor? Why should we not run to his altar, with the morning sacrifice of praise and piety? Why should not our acknowledgment of his mercies be fresh and fragrant with the breath of youth and infancy? Why should not children again sing, "Hosanna in the highest to the Son of David?"

It is not easy to arrange in this rapid enumeration, the advantages to which reference is made; and the catalogue must be incomplete. We associate with youth, however, the ideas of cheerful health and generous ardour, of golden leisure and mental capacity. Unworn by sickness, unclouded with the anxieties of following years, not yet immured in the scenes of absorbing business, how favoured are those whom I now address! And how obvious that every future year will abridge some of their privileges! To borrow the poetic and highlywrought description of Ecclesiastes, (chap. xii.,) "the sun," and the light," and "the moon," and "the stars," are not yet "darkened;" nor do the clouds return after the rain." "The keepers of the house tremble" not; "the daughters of music" are not "brought

low;" and "the almond-tree" has not begun, in hoary whiteness, to flourish." The sad variety of disease and pain is unknown. The powers of the mind are vigorous as those of the body. Clear is the understanding; vivid, the fancy; glowing, the affections; capacious and retentive, the memory. Thrice-happy period! Let it be employed in the culture of sanctifying piety; in the great business of "cleansing the way." Let the bright eye roll ardent over the works of the Creator, and the tuneful voice warble praise in His lower temple. Let the feet run swiftly in the way of His commandments, and the right hand forget its cunning" in every enterprise that rivals His Blessed service. Let the heart beat highest with lively impression of the motives drawn from His goodness; and let the fruition of every divine bounty be full and unalloyed. Let the understanding mind task all its powers in contemplations of truth and of God. Let the imagination be fired with those objects which are worthy of our anxiety, because deathless as our nature. Let the memory be fraught with the words of eternal life. Let the thoughts, the firstborn of the mind, become a ceaseless sacrifice; and let the affections, no longer vagrant, but collected in their most glowing strength, arise to Him who is "the chiefest among ten thousand," and "altogether lovely.

Every aspect of our present consideration supplies new inducements to early piety. The sweetest motives of our common Christianity seem to acquire tenfold impressiveness, when applied to the young. Is godliness a diadem of beauty on every brow? Its gems are brightest, and its lustre is most alluring, when it girds the temples of regenerated youth, Are its privileges offered to all ranks and ages? Blessed be God, the patriarch in years is invited to partake them; but their attainment is easiest in the morning of life. The osier is easily bent, The passive clay, not hardened by growing years, readily yields to the beautiful mould, and receives the sacred impression. A thousand sins are prevented. The newborn "soul" is "delivered from death;" the eyes, from" floods of bitter "tears ;" and the "feet, from falling" into the paths of confirmed and aggravated impiety. The youthful penitent weeps, indeed; and weeps abundantly: but he blesses God, whose preventing grace has forerun many a crime of scarlet hue. It is easy to repent,-to believe,-to embrace the condescending Redeemer, who says, "I love them that love me, and they that seek me early shall find me;" (Prov. viii. 17;) and who invites even little children" to his arms; reprehends his disciples for discouraging their approach; asserts that "of such is the kingdom of heaven;" and solemnly commits the lambs of his blood-bought flock to the care of his restored Apostle, and thus to the guardianship of his Ministers in all ages. (Mark x. 13, 14; John xxi. 15.) See the suppliant of tender years hastening to the throne of mercy. The suc cess of his appeal seems to anticipate the fulfilment of the cheering

ง

D

"

T

testimony,to be finally and publicly verified when "the wolf and the lamb shall feed together;"" and it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isai. lxv. 24.) All hail to the heir of redemption The God of his fathers meets him with a beatific smile. The exalted Immanuel" rejoices in spirit," "sees of the travail of his soul," and is benevolently satisfied." The church on earth welcomes the “blessed of the Lord;" and the full choir of saints and seraphim, in the heavenly places, celebrates the jubilee of his salvation.

66

In fine, while youth has, in this comprehensive view, its matchless facilities and advantages, it is the season in which the sweetness of the divine service is most richly enjoyed; and in which that influence, by which true religion prepares us for all the varieties of eventful life, is pre-eminently valuable and important. Your future lot is unknown; the bounds of your habitation are unfixed. Choose Christ, with his eross and his crown. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness;" and you will be ready for holy living, as well as for serene and triumphant dying. Amid the joys of prosperity you will be prompted to say, "My heart is fixed, O God; my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp I myself will awake early." (Psalm Ivii. 7, 8.) And "in the night" of trouble and adversity, "His song shall" still "be with" you." "Although the figtree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." (Hab. iii. 17, 18.)

2. But youth has, also, its perils; a review of which leads the bene volent and sympathizing Psalmist to ask, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?"

Special exposure may consist with many favouring circumstances. It is, indeed, evident to the thoughtful mind, that some of the advantages which have been enumerated lie on the confines of alarming danger. Youthful ardour may degenerate. The affections may fly to forbidden objects. The tender clay may receive an evil impress. The current of youthful feeling, grateful as "the streams in the south," is as easily diverted from the prescribed channel. A thousand obvious considerations prove that a sanctifying religion alone can direct man in the beguiling mazes, and uphold him in the slippery road, of early life. There are the perils of inexperience. The characteristics of youth are ignorance, haste, simplicity, and fearlessness. Yearning charity sighs over the dangers which crowd the newly-trodden path, and weeps to see you rushing into unknown ruin. Alas! you are charmed with the green hues of the serpent's skin, and unaware of its venom! Unpractised in the navigation of the dangerous ocean, you listen to11 the fatal music of the siren, misguided by the charmer until your