Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1840-10-31
DANGERS OF. THE YOUNG.

The mental and moral training of youth is at all
times, question If the very highest interest and
importance: hut if ever hsrc eau DO period when
the future and conduct of the rising gen,ra.
ton ought to become a mittsr Of more anxious
thought than at any other, it is the present, that
stage of our history through which we are now pas-
sing. The spirit ofinquiry, the intellectual excite
men, the increased and increasing intelligence by
which all classes and more especially the lower and
labouring classes, are distinguished in these days,
beyond oil former experience, would if rightly di-
rected, tend to good, both respects the commu-
nifty at large, and the individuals Of which il con.
sis,s But the agents Of nsubordination and of in.
fidelity are j ligcn,y at work, in poisoning the po-
pulsr mind, in shaking IFS confidence, Ia the
very first principles Of morality and religion, and It's
attachment to our established institutions, both in
church aud state; AMI in emboldenng that class Of
snci ty in which the ply sical strength of a nation
lies, To cast off all fear of God and man. and u
at ,,fance, as far as may be, all laws, human AMI
divine Socialism is | anderins to The lowest and
most cen'ious pr pcnsitics Of human nature; while
by its impieties and basphemies, il is endeavorng
10 destroy that Of moral responsibility which
serves q wholesome check upon mans sensual
sppetes and passions. Chartism is addressing it.
self to that spirit Of nsu jecion to constituted au-
thory-,hat impulienee Of control and restraint
that dissatisfaction with what regarded as an in
ferior lot, and that nvy of the higher conditions Of
life, which are natural TO fallen man. Popery
also is spreading its snares il is skilfu ly adapting
its devices 10 be popular bias; il is stiikng la
with the current Of prevailing opinions avang it.
self If every means Of furthering its designs, and
wi h ceaselcss insinuaion, working and winding
and winning i,s way into The very hear, f our Pro
| testan, constitution, und cloakng aud aline
under fair Ir f. ssons uf literally, il. insel ar ,ble
intolerance, and its innate dcspotism, TIL 1 can
throw of the max with safety and success. Ra.
fionaGsm, meanwhile, in its various forms and ha
SIS, is degrading divine revelation aud defying hu-
man reason; teaching, like the ,empter of old, ,ha
by eating of the fruit Of the tree OF knowledge,
will be as gods-setting up its intellectual idol, and
persua,ling poor bind creatures Of day 10 EXPECT
from their own mental powers and moral resources
what nothing but The grace ef fGod can effect. The
| agents Of the wicked one thus assaiug the ri
sing generation with every kind Of solicitation to c.
| vii, by which man may be drawn away aId enticed,
whether it lie the fl,hincss Of the flesh or the th
ness # the spirit. And it is truth of which we
cannot be too mindful, that the process hy which
the human char Actet is formed, and at l,ngth fixed
is continually progressing either for good OF for evil,
according TO the influences under which each lndi
vidual is Il,c,d. lue cannot stop the education
Of the youthful mind. It will take its form aud
pressure from the circumstances by which IT is sur.
rounded, and the communication which j, is con-
tinuaIy receiving. The young are learning every
day what is profitable what is pTejudiciai Their
habits of thought and action gradually acquiring
strength and establishing their power and prevslen-
cy. And you mig well attempt TO anesI tAe
wheels of lime, and stop the course of nature, as to
prevent the plastic influence Of he acquisitions and
associations which the expanding and active mind
of a rational being is continually making, in the
daily intercourse of life. - Rsp. T. Best.