The Irreligious Youth
S. Martin. Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw near, when you shall say… — "Remember now thy Creator." I. BECAUSE THOSE POWERS OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT TO WHICH RELIGION APPEALS ARE EXERCISED AND DEVELOPED NOW. The youth cannot be in the same position as the infant of days, who cannot think, nor judge, nor will. The rational youth must stand on a footing different from the idiot youth. If God calls us to pursue a certain course, all who have faculties to pursue it, are, by virtue of the possession of these powers, under obligation; the possession of the powers being alike the foundation and the evidence of the claim. II. BECAUSE GOD'S CLAIMS EXIST NOW. "Thy Creator." III. BECAUSE THE SEASON OF YOUTH IS FLEETING NOW. Infancy is gone; childhood is no more; but youth, even if but just come, is really going. Soon, therefore, it will be impossible to the irreligious youth to be a religious youth. He may become a godly man, but still he will have been an ungodly youth. IV. BECAUSE DAYS OF EVIL ARE COMING NOW. 1. The evil day of confirmed sinfulness is coming. Acts repeated, and states cherished, are habits. Oh, how mysterious and how mighty is the force of habit! It is a silken thread transformed by invisible processes into an iron chain. 2. The evil day of multiplied temptation is coming. The body daily grows, and with its growth may spring up some fleshly lust — it may be drunkenness, or grosser vice. The mind is gradually developed, and with its development may arise some spiritual temptation — it may be deceitfulness — scepticism — infidelity. Satan is concentrating force and power to stamp deep and clear this die — a sinful character. 3. The evil day of trouble is coming. V. DEATH MAY BE VERY NEAR, AND IS SURELY COMING NOW. VI. OLD AGE BRINGS CORRESPONDING INFIRMITIES; AND IF IT COME TO YOU, IT WILL SEEM TO HAVE COME BUT NOW. The "evening of life" is a common phrase for old age; let not this poetical phraseology mislead you. If old age be, in its calmness and stillness, like evening, remember that it has the duskiness and the chilliness of evening. Years blunt the bodily senses, and equally the susceptibilities of the soul. Who, therefore, in his right mind, will wait for old age, that in it he may "work out his own salvation with fear and trembling"? VII. THE GREATEST FACILITIES EXIST NOW. I speak now of external advantages, I refer to the state of the spirit, and I assert that more aid is furnished by the state of the soul in youth than by the state of the soul in any other period of life. Habits are not so confirmed in youth as in more advanced years, because the confirmation of habits requires time, and much time has not yet been given. VIII. RELIGION WILL GIVE MOST JOY, AND IT WILL SECURE MOST USEFULNESS IF COMMENCED NOW. 1. It will give most pleasure. There is not so much to unlearn as when persons become godly late in life; and unlearning is an irksome process. If there be any pleasure in religion, the amount taken is increased by being tasted early. 2. It will secure most usefulness. Youthful piety exerts an influence peculiar to itself, and God seems to choose for usefulness chiefly those who are godly while young. IX. RUIN MAY OVERTAKE A YOUTH NOW. If ruin overtake you, it were better for you to have died in infancy; nay, it were better never to have been born. (S. Martin.) Parallel Verses KJV: Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; WEB: Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them;"