a life of
peace. Which is best: the flash of joy lighting up the whole heart,
and then darkness till the next flash comes--or the steady calm
sunlight of day in which men work?

And now, one word to those who are living this young man's
life--thinking to become religious as he did, when they have got tired
of the world. I speak to those who are leading what, in the world's
softened language of concealment, is called a gay life. Young
brethren, let two motives be urged earnestly upon your attention. The
first is the motive of mere honourable feeling. We will say nothing
about the uncertainty of life. We will not dwell upon this fact, that
impressions resisted now, may never come back again. We will not
appeal to terror. That is not the weapon which a Christian minister
loves to use. If our lips were clothed with thunder, it is not
denunciation which makes men Christians; let the appeal be made to
every high and generous feeling in a young man's bosom.

Deliberately and calmly you are going to do _this_: to spend the best
and most vigorous portion of your days in idleness--in uselessness--in
the gratification of self--in the contamination of others. And then
weakness, the relics, and the miserable dregs of life;--you are going
to give _that_ sorry offering to God, because His mercy endureth for
ever! Shame--shame upon the heart which can let such a plan rest in it
one moment. If it be there, crush it like a man. It is a degrading
thing to enjoy husks till there is no man to give them. It is a base
thing to resolve to give to God as little as possible, and not to
serve Him till you must.

Young brethren, I speak principally to you. You have health for God
now. You have strength of mind and body. You have powers which may fit
you for real usefulness. You have appetites for enjoyment which can be
consecrated to God. You acknowledge the law of honour. Well then, by
every feeling of manliness and generosity remember this: now, and not
later, is your time to learn what religion means.

There is another motive, and a very solemn one, to be urged upon those
who are delaying. Every moment of delay adds bitterness to after
struggles. The moment of a feeling of hired servitude must come. If a
man will not obey God with a warm heart, he may hereafter have to do
it with a cold one. To be holy is the work of a long life. The
experience of ten thousand lessons teaches only a little of it; and
a