818. PRO 7:7. A BEACON TO YOUNG MEN

Pro_7:7. a Beacon to Young Men

"A young man void of understanding."’97Pro_7:7.

To be void of understanding, is to act as one who is insane or mad. To do violence to reason’97to despise wisdom, and to be reckless as to the results of our conduct.

Now, reason is the glory of man. It is a light within the soul, by which he is exalted above the brutes that perish. And yet God often charges men with displaying less judgment, than the mere animal creatures. Hence, "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider."’97Isa_1:3. The birds of the air and the fish of the sea know their time; and guided by their respective instincts, migrate at their proper seasons. But men often do not know, and will not consider. Our text, however, relates to one class of mankind. To young men, who display this want of reason and a sound mind, and of whom Solomon says, I discerned among the youths, "A young man, void of understanding."

Let us consider,

I. The evidences of this state.

II. Its evil remits.

And,

III. The only remedy.

I. The evidences of this state.

How can we know and discern with certainty the young, who are. void of understanding?

We remark, those are so,

1. Who throw off the restraints and counsels of their parents and friends.

Honor thy father and mother’97is the first commandment, with promise. One of the kind arrangements of a beneficent Providence is, the parental relationship, by which the wisdom, and power, and affection of others, secure to us the blessings we need. Now to despise this arrangement, or to neglect it, is folly. Nothing can be more important to the young, than the parental oversight and care. How myriads have been ruined by casting it off. The ignorant and inexperienced have relied upon their sufficiency, and that too at the most critical period of life; and have thus made utter shipwreck of themselves. See that haughty self-complacent youth, defying parental authority, and casting off its restraints! Look at the prodigal son demanding his portion, and treating his father with base ingratitude. How heinous the sin! How mad the course! What misery and ruin the result! When counsel and supervision are most needed, they are rejected’97when the benefits of a wise experience are so all-important, they are despised, and that too, when a guide is so indispensable,’97and who so fit to guide and counsel as the parent? Did you ever see such a wayward rebellious son? then you beheld "A young man void of understanding." I refer,

2. To those who become the companions of the foolish and wicked.

Nothing will influence us move, than the company we keep. A serious youth keeping company with triflers. A religiously disposed youth with skeptics. A modest youth with the impudent and daring. A youth of regular habits with the dissipated. In all such cases, the most disastrous results must follow. No other influence will be so disastrous on our highest interests, as that of evil companionship. It will insidiously undermine every good principle’97root out every moral purpose, and destroy all virtuous sensibility, and all modest excellence. It will eat out every thing that is pure and lovely, and of good report. "A companion of fools shall be destroyed." I refer,

3. To those who disregard the opinions of the wise and good around them.

A regard to the estimation of others, is one of the most useful influences of society. Hence, we read of the value of a good name as being better than riches. A respectable character is of more real worth than gold. When a youth begins to say, "I don’t care what people think and say," he gives evidence that he is far gone in the way of degradation, and is void of understanding. In such a case, one of the main bulwarks of virtue and excellency is manifestly broken down. We should ever hold in highest respect and favor the opinions of the wise and good. One of the luxuries of this life, is to have the esteem of the excellent of the earth, and to enjoy fellowship with the wise and holy of mankind.

The text will include,

4. Those who neglect the institutions of religion.

The atmosphere of religious ordinances is that of health and life to every virtue and grace of the soul. Here every genial and righteous emotion will bloom and flourish. How important the private reading of God’s holy word,’97a regular regard to closet meditation and prayer,’97an open and avowed attachment to public religious service,’97a sacred and reverential esteem of the Christian Sabbath. Negligence of these will produce moral darkness, and lethargy, and supineness of spirit. Thus tenderness of conscience will be lost, and spiritual ossification of the heart will follow.

By neglecting Divine ordinances and services, the heart and mind run fallow; and instead of holy fruit being raised to the honor of God, nothing but weeds, and briers, and thorns, will be produced. How soon will reflection and seriousness be entirely banished, and vanity, and emptiness, and foolish display, be all for which that youth will be distinguished. Sabbath profligacy alone, how it destroys the holy affections of the soul’97exposes to countless temptations’97and has ruined myriads upon myriads of the young.

5. To those who yield themselves up to sensual gratifications.

Now, the name of these gratifications, is legion. I refer to,

(1.) The use of tobacco, in any form, as most pernicious. Think of the habits it engenders’97the money it wastes’97the stupor it produces’97the time it destroys. And above all, its connection with dissipated company, and evil places of resort.

(2.) The young man who indulges in intoxicating drinks. This is often the attendant of the last habit. Here the snares are countless. The places, the society, are evil in every sense. It is the open broad-way of moral deterioration and wretchedness. Not only is the habitual use of intoxicating drinks perilous in itself, but it begets a habit which it is most difficult to break off; and a love of unnatural excitement, extremely unfavorable to true seriousness of spirit. The cautions of the divine word on this subject are most powerful and graphic. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."’97Pro_20:1. "Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder."’97Pro_23:31-32. And the inspired record declares, that it is perilous even for the lofty and the great to indulge in these ensnaring liquors. "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted."’97Pro_31:4, Pro_31:5. Besides, the intoxicating glass is the panderer to other sins, and evil courses of life. It is often linked with gambling, and its awful and ruinous effects’97with the theatre, which may be pronounced, beyond a doubt, the very way to the pit of destruction. Here men go down with rapid strides to the gulf of woe. Look at the neighborhoods surrounding such places, how defiled and profligate: children trained to theft’97women to prostitution, &c. The very atmosphere is one of moral pestilence and death.

The text refers,

(3.) To the ensnaring woman. "For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding, passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night. And behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him," &c. Pro_7:6-13. "With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks: Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life."’97Pro_7:21-23. How fearful the result! Money, reputation, health, mind, morals, life, and the soul, all sacrificed! Look at this horrible picture! See him tempted by some polluted, filthy, miserable creature, He yields: then shame, remorse, and ruin, are the result. His means are drained’97his health suffers’97his constitution is broken’97his soul is blighted. Hear his groans in the hospital. See him literally one mass of corruption. Friends are horrified! An early death closes the scene on earth, and the tortures and agonies of the lost perpetuate the dire tragedy through eternity.

Observe, in reference to this character,

II. Its evil results.

And consider,

1. The morally evil condition of the youth themselves.

Here are powers perverted’97talents prostituted’97sin and misery increased’97an immortal being withering beneath the influence of evil. How sad the state! how truly deplorable! A gem of peerless price is forfeited’97an intellectual spirit blighted’97an undying soul lost!

2. The pernicious influence they exert on others.

Every such youth has his young friends and relations, all of whom may be corrupted by his conduct. He spreads abroad the bad atmosphere of his own corrupt mind. His example is deadly to all those within the range of his influence. He diffuses everywhere he goes the evil contagion of his corrupt spirit, and his conversation and example act as a blight and a mildew on other hearts and minds. How often an elder brother leads younger branches of the family, in the same way of dissipation and ruin! So many young men, by their wit, or talents, or mental power, are daring ringleaders in vice. They act on all who associate with them, and form the centre power of the terrible whirlpool which involves the ruin of many with themselves.

But consider especially,

3. The eternal misery to which they are hastening.

Supposing it possible that God should withhold his anger and wrath, their doom must, notwithstanding, be one of sorrow, and woe, and despair. They have no fitness for a heaven of holy knowledge’97a heaven of holy emotions’97of holy society’97of holy exercises. Polluted and guilty; darkness, remorse, and destruction, must be their final portion’97their end is certain eternal death.

And how great the number of young men who thus perish, without God and without hope. How many who are sent from rural districts, and from moral homes, to great towns and cities, die every year! How intensely solicitous, then, should parents and guardians, and ministers be, to watch over the rising youth, that they may not be numbered with those who are "void of understanding." But observe, in reference to such,

III. The only remedy.

How are they to be rescued? We reply, by the adoption of personal religion. There must be,

1. Immediate and genuine repentance. Prompt consideration. Wise reflection, as to what has been the cause of this state. A conviction of the evil of it. To this must be added, intense hatred of it; and then turning away from it at once. Ceasing to do evil, and learning to do well. There must be no parleying, no hesitancy, no delay. At once, and with full earnestness, there must be a stand made, in the downward way of death. The resolution must be, I will go no further, not one step more, in the dark road to perdition. Just as the prodigal stood still, and then said, "I will arise and go to my father."

2. There must be the yielding of the heart to Christ.

Christ alone can open the blind eyes’97 expel the foul spirit’97renew the heart’97save from folly and sin. Faith in him will extract the healing virtue of his grace, and restore the soul. Now, as repentance towards God involves all the consideration and turning from evil we have spoken of; so it must be ever connected, and that most directly, with coming to Christ.

A knowledge of our ruin, a sense of our guilt, and a desire to be delivered from it, are all really essential; but they must terminate in looking to Christ, the only Saviour. In resting on his atoning sacrifice for acceptance with God, and in washing in that only precious fountain which has been opened for sin, and for uncleanness. Thus the spirit will be disburdened’97the conscience renewed’97and the whole moral nature be sanctified and made fit for the divine service and glory.

Then this must be succeeded,

3. By the regulation of the life by the Word of God.

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to thy Word." The Word of God must be taken as the one and only infallible guide. This is the clear directory to a holy, useful life, and to a blessed immortality. This book makes wise the simple’97counsels the inexperienced’97establishes the wavering’97is a shield to the imperilled’97and produces moral growth and vigor in all those in whom it dwells richly. How needful that all, but especially the young, should read it regularly, and with prayer and much meditation, become intimate with its revelations, both of doctrine, precept, and promise. An early knowledge of Scripture had made Timothy wise to salvation, and, no doubt, eminently qualified him to be so great an ornament, as well as so instrumentally useful in the churches of Jesus. Then there must be,

4. Union to, and fellowship with, God’s people.

They that walk with wise men shall be wiser. The Church is God’s kingdom, into which all his subjects are to be introduced; for their own safety, improvement, and comfort. Here they are to honor Christ’97labor for souls’97and grow in meetness for heaven. By religious associations, the young will be encouraged and aided amid the difficulties and perils incident to early piety. Here, too, they will find a sphere for the development of their powers, and the employment of their talents and time. Here they will dwell as in a holy fortress, and by divine grace be preserved from worldly pollution and the attacks of the devil. Here they will have companionship and union with the wise and good of earth; and, by a diligent and devout use of the privileges and ordinances of the Church, be fitted for their bright and eternal calling in the heavenly state. Oh yes, the Church of Christ is the fold for his flock’97the family for his children’97and the garrison for those who are engaged in the good warfare.

Application

Learn, in conclusion,

How truly important is our subject. How all Christians should feel it to be such. The young are, manifestly, to be lights to the Church and the world. We appeal to all young men. We ask, what is your moral state, character, and prospects? Have you thought of yourselves, the great ends of your being, and your fitness for accomplishing those ends? Are you so living, that your conduct will tend to your moral reputation and usefulness; and are you so living, that you may reasonably expect your youthful state to terminate in an honorable maturity; and when life itself shall end, in a safe and joyous eternity? Oh, ponder these momentous questions; and if conscience does not respond satisfactorily, at once give God your heart, and resolve to devote your whole being to glorify him.

We remark, finally, that our text need not be confined to young men, young women are equally interested. Divine wisdom is as needful for them as for young men. Folly is as ruinous in them as in young men. Indeed, vice of any kind appears more odious in them, than in the other sex. Religion is every thing to the young woman, for both worlds. Oh, think of the godly women of Scripture, and emulate their spirit, and follow their example. Remember Mary’s wise and holy choice, and secure the one thing needful, the good part, that which shall not be taken from you. So shall you enjoy the love of the Saviour’97adorn the gospel of God’97and eventually be crowned with glory, immortality, and eternal life.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS