They have the fairest all these abating circumstances are reversed. prospect of a long continued period of labor. believe that they shall have time to achieve much good. They are, therefore, encouraged to form designs upon a large scale of usefulness, and to execute them with all the zeal and perseverance which usually attend efforts to accomplish great undertakings. The aged saint is disheartened, not only by the shortness of his remaining life, but by his consciousness, that all his abilities for service have greatly decayed. He knows that while his spirit is willing, his flesh is weak. But young men are animated, not only by the hope of long life, but by the fact that they possess their mental powers in such full vigor as to qualify them for the highest achievements. Thus, from the influence which early piety has in expanding the intellectual faculties, in strengthening all the active powers of the soul, in giving permanency to habits of benevolent action; and from the peculiar and powerful motives for religious effort presented to young men of piety and knowledge, it is evident that the church has reason to expect more from them than from any other class of professing Christians. 1. Our subject suggests the reason why God, in the advancement of the church, has assigned to young men of piety the most important services. In all the most interesting transactions of the Jewish church, young men were called to fill conspicuous places, and were honored in gaining the most signal achievements. It was by young men that Abraham rescued his brother Lot, and conquered five confederated kings. When the Jews were to be delivered from Egyptian bondage, God shed down the influences of his Spirit in a remarkable degree upon the youth, and, on account of their superiority in moral courage and activity, he employed them as his principal agents in sustaining his cause in the wilderness, and in conducting the typical church into the promised land of rest. When the law was promulgated from the top of Sinai, young men were employed to offer burnt-offerings and sacrifice peace-offerings upon the altar of Jehovah. It was young men whom the Lord selected to sally forth from the gates of Samaria, to vanquish the countless hosts of Syrians who had long besieged that city. And when the gospel was to be spread among the Gentiles, God poured out his Spirit upon young men, and thus qualified them to preach in his name, and to spread Christianity throughout the Roman empire. God, in thus honoring this class, displayed his wisdom and benevolence. Though he be almighty, and can give success to any instruments, yet, in selecting them, he often proceeds as if the accomplishment of the end depended entirely upon their fitness. Men are more suitable than angels to become messengers of love to a fallen world. And, of all classes in the church, young men possess the highest qualifications to perform the severest and most perilous labors in accomplishing the designs of mercy. God, in giving young men this prominency, has furnished his people with a proper example in choosing agents to promote the cause of Zion. If they wish for the highest success, they must call those to their aid who are best qualified to execute their purposes. 2. We see the reason why God most frequently pours out his Spirit upon youth. If a man, after having wasted his powers, and grown gray in the service of sin, be then converted, he must form but a feeble agent in the kingdom of Christ. Hence, God usually leaves the hoary sinner to die in his iniquity. It is true, there are exceptions to this fact. Some are plucked as brands out of the fire, just before their death, and have thus been made signal monuments of mercy. But it is generally upon the youth that the showers of grace descend. This is emphatically true in modern revivals. It is upon the rising generation that the influences of the Divine Spirit have been shed forth in rich abundance. It is also an interesting fact, that, of late years, there is an increase in the proportion of male professors among the youth. Recently, in one year, there were rising of four hundred hopeful conversions among the young men in our colleges. This circumstance should be regarded as a signal intimation of the Divine favor. When the vast moral field is so white, and the laborers so few, it is a most animating fact, that the Lord of the harvest is qualifying a great increase of laborers to send forth into his harvest. 3. Our subject suggests special motives to pray for the conversion of young men. We are bound to pray, in submission, for all men, and to rejoice in the conversion of the humblest and the least promising character. But still, those who are renewed in youth, we have seen, are superior in moral strength to those who experience this change in advanced years. And certainly the friends of Zion ought to be specially desirous for the calling of the most powerful agents into her service. The enterprising men of this world seek for those who are best fitted to advance their respective interests. The general knows that the welltrained youth makes a better soldier, and is likely to remain longer in the service, than one who enters the army at forty. The man who, from his boyhood, has been habituated to trade, makes a more accurate and successful merchant than he who commences the business after he has passed his meridian. It is much so in spiritual things. The most honored individuals of ancient times were distinguished for early piety. Moses and Joshua, Samuel and Jeremiah, Daniel and John were sanctified in childhood, and as they grew in years they waxed stronger and stronger in spiritual might. Hence the amount of good they performed, and the wonders they wrought. How powerful, then, the motive to pray for the conversion of those who thus promise the greatest good to the kingdom of Christ. Never before was the field to be cultivated so great as it now is, and never so inviting. Truly the harvest is plenteous, and the laborers are few. Let it then be our prayer, that God would pour out his Spirit upon our youth, and upon our seminaries of learning. There are, in this rising nation, more than fifty colleges and universities, besides a very large number of academies and high schools. These institutions embrace within their walls the flower of our country. Many of these youth possess talents of a superior grade. And their intellectual and moral powers are daily unfolding, and strengthening. These are the individuals who are coming forward to fill the most important stations in society, and to become the arbiters of future generations. Who can feel indifferent as to the character which this choicest portion of our citizens shall sustain? But who can fashion their hearts aright, and inspire them with that holy affection, and expansive benevolence which shall embrace the whole human family? Human teachers may, indeed, enrich and embellish their minds with the treasures of learning. But it is the prerogative of God to bring them to repentance, and to fire them with a quenchless zeal for the honor of his name. He can give them such bright views of the worth of the soul, of the glory of Christ, and of the blessedness of heaven, as shall constrain them to make it their whole concern to persuade their fellow-men to turn from sinful ways, and to embrace the offers of eternal life. Ye, then, that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give him no rest, until he pour out his Spirit upon our seats of learning, and upon the rising generation throughout Christian lands, that we may have a countless army of young soldiers of the cross, to go forth and be the honored instruments of converting the nations to God. 4. Our subject suggests the importance of attending to physical and moral education. The body, no less than the mind, is susceptible of being trained to vigorous habits. The apostle encouraged young men to abound in the work of the Lord, not simply on account of their moral strength, but also on account of their superior bodily powers. He wished for agents possessing the highest qualifications, both in the inward and outward man. And this, too, should be our wish. We need agents of firm health, and vigor of constitution, that they may endure hardness, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ; and sustain that high mental action, which is so much demanded by the present efforts to evangelize the world. But our subject affords equal encouragement to moral and religious instruction. Solomon says, "train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Here, let it be observed, the wise man does not encourage parents to fidelity in this kind of training, by promising to bestow wealth, or fame, or long life. But he stimulates them by the assurance, that, in consequence of their faithful labors for the spiritual good of their child, he should be established in religious habits. This is a favor infinitely transcending all that the world can bestow. For what can impart greater happiness, or higher moral worth, than to possess the unchanging principle of obedience. But little, as yet, has been done to give to the moral powers of youth the highest degree of elevation and strength. What a difference between the heart of Nero and that of Howard, between the desires of Alexander and those of St. Paul. And is there now no process, which, by the blessing of Heaven, might produce an army of such men as Howard and Paul? May not some favored individual soon arise, who, by untried and felicitious combinations of divine truth and moral excellencies, shall make impressions upon the hearts of saints and sinners far greater than any that have yet been produced? Would not Paul or Apollos, were they now to return to earth, so unveil before youthful minds the doctrines of Christianity, as to kindle within them a higher and a purer flame of love than has been felt since their time? How much do we now need men of that soundness in body, and life in soul, which would enable them to wield, with a giant's grasp, the weapons of our holy warfare--men of that firmness and fire which labor will not subdue, failure dishearten, nor danger appal-of that unblenching and right onward spirit, which defies the stake, the sword, and the rack, when they would obstruct the path of duty. Such men were the apostles and primitive preachers of the gospel. Inured to toils and to sufferings, till they were converted and received their heavenly commission, they were prepared to take on the whole armor of God, and to enter the field of conflict, as untiring and valiant soldiers of Christ. These were the men who could move the moral world, and plant the standard of the cross upon the ruins of idolatry. And who will say that another race, trained like them, might not now soon obtain similar victories? 5. Our subject presents powerful motives to students to seek the favor and service of Christ. You prize nothing so highly as intellectual supremacy: and you would doubtless follow any counsel which you believed would put you in possession of this distinction. But what subject in the whole range of thought can give such an impulse to your mind, and such an elevation of all its powers as that of pure religion? No one doubts this who understands its nature. It consists in sublime conceptions of God-of the extent and influence of redemption, and of the effect of probation on the eternal destinies of man, and in a hearty observance of all the great duties of revelation. This religion has done more to exalt human character than all other subjects combined. It is the grand element of mental and moral growth, both in heaven and earth. Indeed, no man can be truly great, unless his mind is purified and enlarged by its sacred power. It gave elevation and grandeur of soul to prophets and apostles; and in modern days, it has placed high in the scale of being such men as Newton, and Milton, and Boyle, and Locke. It is the only redeeming power from heaven that is now going forth to emancipate one nation after another from the slavery of sin, and to introduce among them learning, and genius, and arts, and comforts, and the virtues of social life. In this manner it will continue its career, until every human tribe has felt its benign influence, and the earth is changed into a paradise of truth and holiness. This is the religion which I would urge upon your immediate regards. Do you wish to possess the richest source of lasting happiness? do you wish to have your names enrolled in the brightest record of renown? or to wear an unfading crown? let me assure you that this happiness and these honors can be obtained only in the possession of vital piety, and in the consecration of all your powers to the glory of God and the good of men. Those who seek their chief good in no higher objects than the world can present, must be for ever disappointed. For it is the purpose of Heaven, that those who neglect his glory "shall be lightly esteemed," and their names held in "everlasting contempt." While the Alexanders, the Cæsars, and the Bonapartes shall be searching in vain for their laurels, Mary and Lazarus, and the humblest follower of the Lamb, shall be wearing their heavenly crowns of unfading lustre. Come, then, guilty and unworthy as you are, and give yourselves to the Lord Jesus, and he will make you kings and priests unto God. He will make you sharers with himself in the work of renovating the world, and your efforts in this short life to advance his kingdom shall be had in everlasting remembrance. 6. Our subject addresses itself with deep and solemn interest, at the present day, to pious young men. The church has recently been divinely moved to undertake the great work of spreading the gospel among all nations. The field which, under God, she intends to cultivate and make fruitful, is no less than the whole world. In executing this sublime enterprise, the church will need gold and silver, and the physical efforts of vast numbers. But the chief agents in effecting this change are the young disciples of the cross-those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, and enriched by the graces of the Spirit. As it is the action of matter upon matter, which keeps up a healthful motion in the material world; so it is the action of mind upon mind, which affects all the important changes in the spiritual world. You have seen the distinguished rank which God has heretofore assigned to those of your age in extending the blessings of his kingdom. And as the same reasons exist for such services now, God is presenting the strongest motives to induce you to unite in the same glorious effort. The inspired John wished to enlist the aid of young men in the church "because they were strong." For the same reason we now invite you to come up with greater boldness to the help of the Lord. "Ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you." Yes, young men, ransomed by blood of Jesus, enjoying the light of Heaven, and filled with the love of Christ, are the strongest agents in our moral world. The holy truths they dispense, the light they shed, the sword they wield, and the zeal and compassion they display, are the strongest weapons in the armor of God. These weapons have a direct tendency to demolish the strongholds of Satan. It is true, that such is the inveteracy of sin, that even these weapons will not subdue it, unless attended by the aid of the Holy Ghost. But on this account you have no more right to say that they are impotent, that they have no tendency to overcome the heart, than you would have to say, that battering engines have no force, merely because they do not beat down a strong fortress. No, my young friends, "ye are strong," and your |