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_? Virginia Jstate I
VOL. VII1VI.
Fronting Lif
" Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let
thy heart cheer thee in the day of thy youth, and
walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight
of thine eyes; but knew thou, that for all these
things Ood will bring thee into judgment."?
Eccle. 11:9.
A curious study of history will reveal the
fact that men easily swiug between two extremes
and shift to the most opposite positions
of opinion and practice. This is not at all
surprising in wordly affairs, in which one may
follow the bent of his own desires or conform
to the prevailing customs, however they may
change, without serious transgression or hurt.
But it is surprising in religion; for we have
an infallible rule of faith and practice, and .
need be "no more children, tossed to and fro,
and carried about by every wind of doctrine,
by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness.
But, as a matter of fact, we are thus tossed
to and fro, carried from one extreme of opinion
to another by every wind of doctrine, tricked
out of our very senses by the sleight of men.
The fault, let me assure you, lies not in the
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--..v/?vv v#x Vjua o n uiu, UUl IttHf
er iu the obstinate perversity of the human
heart, which will not submit to the clear enunciation
of truth.
Now, here is a case in point: 'tis sfiid that
our forefathers held strict and narrow views
in regard to all enjoyment and pleasure, that
they gloomly frowned upon every "innocent
amusement." This judgment is certainly too
severe and sweeping; but we may allow that
in general this was characteristic of the generation
past. They certainly did discountenance
many things that are now indulged without
a scruple or even question. But we have
swung over to the opposite extreme, permit
an almost unrestrained indulgence and proclaim
the largest liberty?a word, that alas,
too often cloaks a spirit impatient of all restraint
!
Now, the golden mean lies between these
two extremes; pleasure is not necessarily
wrong; enjoyment is not sinful. But the enjoyment
and pleasures of life should be regulated
by considerations, which no one has the
right to ignore. This I believe is the very
truth that Solomon announces in these words:
"Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let
thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth;
and walk in the ways of thy heart and in the
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all these things God will call thee into judgment."
We are at once struck with the seeming contradiction
between the first and last clauses
of this text: "Rejoice, O young man, in thy
youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days
of thy youth"?why chill that joy with the
threat of judgment? "and walk in the ways of
thine heart and in the light of thine eyes"?
V ~ *
*
Mttrarr
' t ORLEAN >. ATLANTA, SEPT EC
e, The Futui
Rev. W. T. PALMER, D. D.
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA
strange advice and cold comfort, if we must
be told that the light will go out in death, and
the way only lead to the Bar of God! Is this
what Solomon meant? Surely not! What seems
to be a contradiction in thought only the more
forcibly attracts the mind to the truth.
Joy is net sinful, and youth is the time for
joy; then, "rejoice in thy youth"?not merely
in the time of youth, but in the very joy of
youth, the strength, buoyancy, hopefulness of
? f k ' on/1 lnf til in a ll mI svVi /va?? f * ?? ilt/t yln ?vn
it aiiu ict uuuc mai l tucci iucc 1x1 mc Uttjo
of thy youth;" the very capacity and opportunity
lays on every one the obligation to do so.
But at the same time every one must realize
that indulgence should be moderated by one
comprehensive and weighty consideration that
it is the very folly to ignore; know thou that
for all these things God will call thee into
judgment.
The sentiment enfolded in these words is not
trifling, capricious: as if a father should say,
"Go, my boy, to your play, have a good time;
but remember that when you come home I
will switch you for it." Nor are these solemn
words, they need not distress us, they are not
intended to frighten us, like children, from
our play by a di-imal croaking of judgment,
But to kindly warn us in the midst of life's joys
against
A HEEDLESS LIFE.
There is a serious side of life. Duties crowd
into our lives and work is man's portion under
the sun. But this need not make life a burden.
Some earnest things we have to do; some cares
we must carry with us. But he who lives wisely
and works well may realize in his work the
highest joy and deepest satisfaction.
But whether pleasant and agreeable or not?
here they are; these duties, responsibilities
and cares of life. What will you do with
them ? Face them bravely, in dead earnest and
all life will be the stronger and better for the
struggle. Trifle with them, shirk them?and
frankly it were better if you had never been
born.
But, 'tis said, youth is a time of joy and so
must not have cares or he overthoughtful;
and this is true in a sense. Having strength
and freedom from much sorrow that beclouds
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that drags so heavily at the heels of energy,
youth may well rejoice. Nevertheless from the
moment of responsibility every one has claims
and duties that may not he denied. To avoid
or shirk them, because they seem to interfere
with your walking in the ways of your heart
and in the light of your eyes, to feel that every
earnest duty is a drudgery; to allow this to he
al Presbyter/an c
tiern Presbyterian
dBER 4, 1912. NO. 36.
:e And God
come the habit of thought and life, to think
tnat anyone, young or old, has a right to live
after that fashion is just a total misconception
of life.
Then, again, no act of iii'e is isolated, standing
alone. No course of conduct ends with
itself. Do you say: 1 will do this once ana
then have done with it forever? That is folly.
Every act is a positive force; we must deal
with consequences, perhaps forever. But the
consequences are in the future, the joy, the
pleasure is present: therefore, "eat, drink and
be merry"?and tomorrow? Well, let tomor
row laae care 01 itseii.
This is recklessness; this is the temptation
that is insinuating itseii into so many hearts
to-day. "For bhe time"?"Rejoice"?"Walk
in the ways of thine heart!" What matter if
the moment's joy brings years of pain? What
matter if today dissipation means a wrecked
physical and moral nature, a degenerate manhood?
But surely no one can afford to be
thus heedless of consequesces; they involve
too much, are too far reaching! Add to this
the thought of selfishness, which really gives
birth to carelessness and recklessness.
"No man livetli to himself; no man dieth to
himself." In one sense he cannot; in another
he often does. But has anyone the right to
live for himself, if he could? To disregard
the interests and happiness of others? Is your
happiness, your own joy, your own comfort,
^11 it _ ^ "
an uiai you will consider in life? But if your
joy means sorrow to another; what then? If
your laughter brings tears? But why say
more on this subject; who does not condemn
a selfish life?
Let us sum up then what has been said thus
far. AVhen, in the pursuit of enjoyment, or
for that matter, in any engagement of life,
one is careless or impatient of the serious duties
of life, he is frivolous; when indifferent to
consequences, he is reckless; when inconsiderate
of others, he is selfish. Who does not condemn
such a life? And will not God?
Oh, you will not need to be ashamed in the
judgment that you have been happy; but you
must be covered with shame and confusion of
face, when it is charged against you that you
have been a gay, thoughtless trifler, living only
to have a good time, instead of making
good the time God gives you.
2. This is a warning against
A WORLDLY LIFE.
Let us take this word '4worldly" in a very
different sense from the ordinnrv
once the thought reverts to* certain forms of
amusement, which are called "wordly." With
many the highest form of consecration is supposed
to consist in "giving up" these things.
This is the merest childishness! "When I was
a child, I thought as a cMld, I seasoned as a