莱尔主教upper_room-第85章
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are sure to entail。 This is the last reason why I exhort you。
II。 Dangers of Young Men。
2。 In the second place； There are some special dangers against which
young men need to be warned。
（1） One danger to young men is pride。
I know well that all souls are in fearful peril。 Old or young； it
matters not； all have a race to run； a battle to fight； a heart to
mortify； a world to overe； a body to keep under； a devil to resist；
and we may well say； Who is sufficient for these things？ But still
every age and condition has its own peculiar snares and temptations；
and it is well to know them。 He that is forewarned is forearmed。 If I
can only persuade you to be on your guard against the dangers I am
going to name； I am sure I shall do your souls an essential service。
Pride is the oldest sin in the world。 Indeed； it was before the world。
Satan and his angels fell by pride。 They were not satisfied with their
first estate。 Thus pride stocked hell with its first inhabitants。
Pride cast Adam out of paradise。 He was not content with the place God
assigned him。 He tried to raise himself； and fell。 Thus sin； sorrow；
and death entered in by pride。
Pride sits in all our hearts by nature。 We are born proud。 Pride makes
us rest satisfied with ourselves；…think we are good enough as we
are；stop our ears against advice；refuse the gospel of Christ；turn
every one to his own way。 But pride never reigns anywhere so powerfully
as in the heart of a young man。
How mon is it to see young men heady； highminded； and impatient of
counsel！ How often they are rude and uncourteous to all about them；
thinking they are not valued and honoured as they deserve！ How often
they will not stop to listen to a hint from an older person！ They think
they know everything。 They are full of conceit of their own wisdom。
They reckon elderly people； and especially their relations； stupid； and
dull； and slow。 They fancy they want no teaching or instruction
themselves： they understand all things。 It makes them almost angry to
be spoken to。 Like young horses； they cannot bear the least control。
They must needs be independent； and have their own way。 They seem to
think； like those whom Job mentioned； 〃We are the people； and wisdom
shall die with us〃 （Job 12：2）。 And this is all pride。
Such an one was Rehoboam； who despised the counsel of the old
experienced men who stood before his father； and hearkened to the
advice of the young men of his own generation。 He lived to reap the
consequences of his folly。 There are many like him。
Such an one was the prodigal son in the parable； who must needs have
the portion of goods which fell to him； and set up for himself。 He
could not submit to live quietly under his father's roof； but would go
into a far country； and be his own master。 Like the little child that
will leave its mother's hand and walk alone； he soon smarted for his
folly。 He became wiser when he had to eat husks with the swine。 But
there are many like him。
Young men； I beseech you earnestly； beware of pride。 Two things are
said to be very rare sights in the world； one is a young man humble；
and the other is an old man content。 I fear this saying is only too
true。
Be not proud of your own abilities； your own strength；your own
knowledge；your own appearance； your own cleverness。 Be not proud of
yourself； and your endowments of any kind。 It all es from not
knowing yourself and the world。 The older you grow； and the more you
see； the less reason you will find for being proud。 Ignorance and
inexperience are the pedestal of pride； once let the pedestal be
removed； and pride will soon e down。
Remember how often Scripture sets before us the excellence of a humble
spirit。 How strongly we are warned 〃not to think of ourselves more
highly than we ought to think〃！ （Rom。 12：3）。 How plainly we are told；
〃If any man think that he knoweth anything； he knoweth nothing yet as
he ought to know 〃！ （1 Cor。 8：2）。 How strict is the mand； 〃 Put on
humbleness of mind〃！ （Col。 3：12）。 And again； 〃Be clothed with humility〃
（1 Pet。 5：5）。 Alas； this is a garment of which many seem not to have so
much as a rag。
Think of the great example our Lord Jesus Christ leaves us in this
respect。 He washed the feet of His disciples； saying； 〃Ye should do as
I have done to you〃 （John 13：15）。 It is written； 〃Though He was rich；
yet for your sakes He became poor〃 （2 Cor。 8：9）。 And again； 〃He made
Himself of no reputation； and took upon Him the form of a servant； and
was made in the likeness of men； and being found in fashion as a man；
He humbled Himself〃 （Phil。 2：7…8）。 Surely to be proud is to be more
like the devil and fallen Adam； than like Christ。 Surely it can never
be mean and low…spirited to be like Him。
Think of the wisest man that ever livedI mean Solomon。 See how he
speaks of himself as a 〃little child；〃as one who 〃knew not how to go
out or e in；〃 or manage for himself （1 Kings 3：7…8）。 That was a very
different spirit from his brother Absalom's； who thought himself equal
to anything： 〃Oh that I were made judge in the land； that every man
which hath any suit or cause might e unto me； and I would do him
justice〃 （2 Sam。 15：4）。 That was a very different spirit from his
brother Adonijah's； who 〃exalted himself； saying； I will be king〃 （1
Kings 1：5）。 Humility was the beginning of Solomon's wisdom。 He writes
it down as his own experience； 〃Seest thou a man wise in his own
conceit？ there is more hope of a fool than of him〃 （Prov。 26：12）。
Young men； lay to heart the Scriptures here quoted。 Do not be too
confident in your own judgment。 Cease to be sure that you are always
right； and others wrong。 Be distrustful of your own opinion； when you
find it contrary to that of older men than yourselves； and specially to
that of your own parents。 Age gives experience； and therefore deserves
respect。 It is a mark of Elihu's wisdom； in the book of Job； that 〃he
waited till Job had spoken； because they were older than himself〃 （Job
32：4）。 And afterwards he said； 〃I am young； and you are very old；
wherefore I was afraid； and durst not show you mine opinion。 I said；
Days should speak； and multitude of years should teach wisdom〃 （Job
32：6…7）。 Modesty and silence are beautiful graces in young people。
Never be ashamed of being a learner： Jesus was one at twelve years；
when He was found in the temple； He was 〃sitting in the midst of the
doctors； both hearing them； and asking them questions〃 （Luke 2：46）。 The
wisest men would tell you they are always learners； and are humbled to
find after all how little they know。 The great Sir Isaac Newton used to
say that he felt himself no better than a little child； who had picked
up a few precious stones on the shore of the sea of knowledge。
Young men； if you would be wise； if you would be happy； remember the
warning I give you； Beware of pride。
（2） Another danger to young men is the love of pleasure。
Youth is the time when our passions are strongest；and like unruly
children； cry most loudly for indulgence。 Youth is the time when we
have generally most health and strength： death seems far away； and to
enjoy ourselves in this life seems everything。 Youth is the time when
most people have few earthly cares or anxieties to take up their
attention。 And all these things help to make young men think of nothing
so much as pleasure。 〃I serve lusts and pleasures：〃 that is the true
answer many a young man should give； if asked； 〃Whose servant are you？〃
Young men； time would fail me if I were to tell you all the fruits this
love of pleasure produces； and all the ways in which it may do you
harm。 Why should I speak of revelling； feasting； drinking； gambling；
theatre…going； dancing； and the like？ Few are to be found who do not
know something of these things by bitter experience。 And these are only
instances。 All things th
