莱尔主教upper_room-第86章
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know something of these things by bitter experience。 And these are only
instances。 All things that give a feeling of excitement for the
time；all things that drown thought； and keep the mind in a constant
whirl；all things that please the senses and gratify the flesh；these
are the sort of things that have mighty power at your time of life； and
they owe their power to the love of pleasure。 Be on your guard。 Be not
like those of whom Paul speaks； 〃Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of
God〃 （2 Tim。 3：4）。
Remember what I say： if you would cleave to earthly pleasures； these
are the things which murder souls。 There is no surer way to get a
seared conscience and a hard impenitent heart； than to give way to the
desires of the flesh and mind。 It seems nothing at first； but it tells
in the long run。
Consider what Peter says： 〃Abstain from fleshly lusts； which war
against the soul〃 （1 Pet。 2：11）。 They destroy the soul's peace； break
down its strength； lead it into hard captivity； make it a slave。
Consider what Paul says： 〃Mortify your members which are upon the
earth〃 （Col。 3：5）。 〃They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh；
with its affections and lusts〃 （Gal。 5：24）。 〃I keep under my body； and
bring it into subjection〃 （1 Cor。 9：27）。 Once the body was a perfect
mansion of the soul； m now it is all corrupt and disordered； and needs
constant watching。 It is a burden to the soul；not a helpmeet； a
hindrance； not an assistance。 It may bee a useful servant； but it
is always a bad master。
Consider； again； the words of Paul： 〃Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ；
and make not provision for the flesh； to fulfil the lusts thereof〃
（Rom。 13：14）。 〃These；〃 says Leighton； 〃are the words； the very reading
of which so wrought with Augustine； that from a licentious young man he
turned a faithful servant of Jesus Christ。〃 Young men； I wish this
might be the case with all of you。
Remember； again； if you will cleave to earthly pleasures； they are all
unsatisfying； empty； and vain。 Like the locusts of the vision in
Revelation； they seem to have crowns on their heads： but like the same
locusts； you will find they have stings；real stings；in their tails。
All is not gold that glitters。 All is not good that tastes sweet。 All
is not real pleasure that pleases for a time。
Go and take your fill of earthly pleasures if you will； you will never
find your heart satisfied with them。 There will always be a voice
within； crying； like the horse…leech in the Proverbs； 〃Give； give！〃
There is an empty place there； which nothing but God can fill。 You will
find； as Solomon did by experience； that earthly pleasures are but a
vain show；vanity and vexation of spirit；whited sepulchres； fair to
look at without； full of ashes and corruption within。 Better be wise in
time。 Better write 〃poison〃 on all earthly pleasures。 The most lawful
of them must be used with moderation。 All of them are soul…destroying
if you give them your heart。 ＇25＇
And here I will not shrink from warning all young men to remember the
seventh mandment； to beware of adultery and fornication； of all
impurity of every kind。 I fear there is often a want of plain speaking
on this part of God's law。 But when I see how prophets and Apostles
have dealt with this subject；when I observe the open way in which the
Reformers of our own Church denounce it；when I see the number of
young men who walk in the footsteps of Reuben； and Hophni； and
Phinehas； and Amnon；I for one cannot； with a good conscience； hold my
peace。 I doubt whether the world is any better for the excessive
silence which prevails upon this mandment。 For my own part； I feel
it would be false and unscriptural delicacy； in addressing young men；
not to speak of that which is pre…eminently 〃the young man's sin。〃
The breach of the seventh mandment is the sin above all others；
that； as Hosea says； 〃takes away the heart〃 （Hos。 4：11）。 It is the sin
that leaves deeper scars upon the soul than any sin that a man can
mit。 It is a sin that slays its thousands in every age； and has
overthrown not a few of the saints of God in time past。 Lot； and
Samson； and David are fearful proofs。 It is the sin that man dares to
smile at； and smoothes over under the names of gaiety； unsteadiness；
wildness； and irregularity。 But it is the sin that the devil peculiarly
rejoices over； for he is the 〃unclean spirit；〃 and it is the sin that
God peculiarly abhors； and declares He 〃will judge〃 （Heb。 13：4）。
Young men； 〃flee fornication〃 （1 Cor。 6：18） if you love life。 〃Let no
man deceive you with vain words： for because of these things eth the
wrath of God upon the children of disobedience〃 （Eph。 5：6）。 Flee the
occasions of it；the pany of those who might draw you into it； the
places where you might be tempted to it。 Read what our Lord says about
it in Matt。 5：28。 Be like holy Job： 〃Make a covenant with your eyes〃
（Job 31：1）。 Flee talking of it。 It is one of the things that ought not
so much as to be named。 You cannot handle pitch and not be defiled。
Flee the thoughts of it； resist them； mortify them； pray against
them；make any sacrifice rather than give way。 Imagination is the
hotbed where this sin is too often hatched。 Guard your thoughts； and
there is little fear about your deeds。
Consider the caution I have been giving。 If you forget all else； do not
let this be forgotten。
（3） Another danger to young men is thoughtlessness and inconsideration。
Want of thought is one simple reason why thousands of souls are cast
away for ever。 Men will not consider； will not look forward； will not
look around them；will not reflect on the end of their present course；
and the sure consequences of their present ways；and awake at last to
find they are damned for want of thinking。
Young men； none are in more danger of this than yourselves。 You know
little of the perils around you； and so you are heedless how you walk。
You hate the trouble of sober； quiet thinking； and so you form wrong
decisions and run your heads into sorrow。 Young Esau must needs have
his brother's pottage and sell his birthright： he never thought how
much he should one day want it。 Young Simeon and Levi must needs avenge
their sister Dinah； and slay the Shechemites： they never considered how
much trouble and anxiety they might bring on their father Jacob and his
house。 Job seems to have been specially afraid of this thoughtlessness
among his children： it is written； that when they had a feast； and 〃the
days of their feasting were gone about； Job sent and sanctified them；
and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt…offerings； according
to the number of them all： for Job said； It may be that my sons have
sinned； and cursed God in their hearts。 Thus did Job continually〃 （Job
1：5）。
Believe me； this world is not a world in which we can do well without
thinking； and least of all do well in the matter of our souls。 〃Don't
think；〃 whispers Satan： he knows that an unconverted heart is like a
dishonest tradesman's books； it will not bear close inspection。 〃
Consider your ways；〃 says the Word of God； stop and think；consider
and be wise。 Well says the Spanish proverb； 〃Hurry es from the
devil。〃 Just as men marry in haste and then repent at leisure； so they
make mistakes about their souls in a minute； and then suffer for it for
years。 Just as a bad servant does wrong； and then says； 〃I never gave
it a thought；〃 so young men run into sin； and then say； 〃I did not
think about it；it did not look like sin。〃 Not look like sin！ What
would you have？ Sin will not e to you； saying； 〃I am sin；〃 it would
do little harm if it did。 Sin always seems 〃good； and pleasant； and
desirable；〃 at the time of mission。 Oh； get wisdom； get discretion！
Remember the words of Solomon： 〃Ponder the paths of thy feet； and let
thy ways be established〃 （Prov。 4：26）。 It is a wise saying of Lord
Ba
