Litchfield enquirer., 1834-02-06
foR rnE EraulRER.
On the Temptations ofthe Young

pleasure, and the imagination and excilahIe let the young beware! The least sinful indulgence is dangerous. And although at first il presents itself in all the captivating coors of the rainbow and clothes
 itself in the guise of seeming innocence yet if once you barley with il, and embrace it, your ruin is begun. Like the specketi hassk, il may enchant for mo- memt, but put forth your hand and touch it, and yon feelle poison of it's angs ihsinuang it's deadly nfu- into every vein, ant, cOrrupling the very ounain of existence.
 One step in the downward career Of vice paves the way for another; and when that is taken, resistance wavers, resolution tas aud the soul is precipilaed with the rapity of mountain torrent, hcadlong over one precpice and another, to the vortex of desiruc- tion All the malignant aud deasing passions are e, loose, swell the darkening cataract until it over leaps every barrier and urs the helpless victim dcep- CT and deeper into the horrd abyss of darkness aud pollution. In agony of despair, he may look u to the height from which he has fallen, and behold it glowing with the light of heaven as when he first for sock it; and it's sparkling fountains and living verdure, and cooling groves. brighening and blooming with renovated brilancy and loveliness while he wrhes tn agony among shades of horror and hissing ser pents, and poisonous Odors, with remorse gnawing a his heart, and his soul sung with the bitter reAec- tions that, to him, innocence is lost forever.
 On the same vantage ground where once he stood tn the pride of conscious integrity, but from which his crimes have hurried him madly to his doom, he may observe others flushed with confidence, kindiug with hope, and smiling with joy pursuing their toiI- some way up the narrow and rugged defle of the mountain, tleir.eyes fixed upon the holy temple of the New Jerusalem, encircled with blaze of glory, aud surrounded by rnyriads of Cheruhim and Seraphim, clothed in robes of dazzling wh,euess, and holding gliuerins crowns in their hands. or bearing golden harps to gree, them with the melody of heaven, and welcome their approach, with celestial love and holy serenity beamng in their counenances, 10 the man. sions of eternal bessed6ess. What; then mus. be his feelings? Tormenng envy, hopeless remorse for the past, and nve:erate despair for the future Nothing short of divine and miracu interposon in his fa vor, him from the awful misery that awaits him.
 O"e act of yielding to temptation, involved world in the condemna iion to, suffering ribulation and deah Could our first parents in Eden have foreseen the consequences cf their guilt would they have lis- tened moment 10 the willy tempter? Think Of the innumeral,le myriads of their posierly, who have sprung into being and endured pain, disease and death in consequence of,ha ransgression and then ask yourself can expect to sin, and escape punishment?
 The Supreme Ruler of the Universe has written his laws, with the pen of diamond. upon every heart-the law of nature-ihe law of reason-a nd the law of conscience. and no map can violate their die ,a,es, without receiving fearful recompense.
 The temptations to which the young are exposed arise from thousand sources. We shall endeavor 10 point of ihe most seductive and dangerous.
 Bad coa.pany is generally the frs, introduction to conrse of wickedness. The mind, as yet nnpraciised in the maSes of gnii, the judgment unotored. and the feelings susceptible of adverse well as virous in- prcssons easily enlisted in the service ot the ad versary. The young recruit in the ranks oriniqui,y, will, n the outset, have some friendly msgvings of conscience; but the ridicule ofhis abandoned asso- ca,es soon stiAes them, and their example confirms him in depravi,y. They will persnnde him that it is mark of manly independence to break from the re- straints of the vruous, and treat their sautary ad monitions with contempt. His earliest feat is com monly the plunderimg ofan orchard; and from this he is led to rob his father his employer of money for the qualification ofhis unhalowed appetites So long as he can he ofany service 10 his vile compaoions, they besct him at every corner ofhe street, exu in his promising adroness and cunning Ratier his vani- y and encourage his propeusiiies evil He throws off all restraint, drinks carouses plays cars sanders
 es basPhemes, and becomes filthy in his conver- saiion and as ascvous in his condaci as the bravest of them. From this advancement tn his profession or wickedness, there is but more degree to render him candidate for inc State Prison or the gallows
 Another source of temptation exists in the carna desires and capacities of he body. These require the utmost resistance, because they continually war ring against the soul. lfnot kept under due sujec. ,iOn they will ultimately destroy every moral princi pie. An hab,ua odulgeDce in their gra,ifca,ion so long that indulgence s inosdinate and sinful, en- slaves the mind, and renders incapable of any gen. erous noble undertaking. The body is enfeebled hy their bruiaxing influence, and the sonl impeded in its lofty pursuit after knowledge, and wisdom, and virtue, and holiness. The whole man is dehased into a mass of sel6shness. diseases and stupidity. "The carnaI mind says St. Paul, "s enmi,y against God, is not subject io his law neher indeed can he " and "To he carnaIy minded s dealh." Into wba, more lamenta condition immortal being be eapa- hle of ofEallingf
 third source oftempaiiou es in pernicioas books The perusal Of these exers more insidious, and scarcely less fatal power over ihe souI than the ex ample of bad company. They often array vice in the most fascinating colors to hide her mixed deformi,y and inaame the imagination, and arouse the evil pas- soBs of ihe heart, until Inc uEsapecting wretch s |