The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-04-08
sum ny RrnDju1).
From the Telescope
EARLY PIErY.

cAnL1 flE1 I.
The youthful mind cannot lie 100 deep
" impressed with the supremeimportancc
Of religion. 1t is the one thing uccdful,
AS it is The source Of all the real ENJOYMENT
to be experienced in this world, aud pre-
pares the soul for full communion with
God, and a participation il. all the uu-
speakable enjoyInents of the eternal world.
1t is often difficult for the young to be
lleve this. They look upon religion rs "A
gloomy, joyless thing, and for the present
they would prefer pIucking some OF tie
flowers Of earthly pleasure, expecting at
ter a while 10 give attention to reljgion.-
Such a course is wrong, it is dangerous,
and should he avoided as opposed to the
best interests Of the soul. Notice some
inducements to early piety.
l. The Bible encourages it. From it
we learn that there is a peculiar blessed
ness about early religion. "Remcmber
now thy Creator in the days OF thy
youth" are the words Of inspired W don.
The young mind will cling to something;
it will go ont after objects which it Is
thought will be promotlve of happiness.
When therefore the young are just begin
ming to move in socie'y, their energies de-
veloping and faculties expanding, and
while they are to a great degree tree from
the absorbing concerns Of the world, their
Creator and Heavenly Father comes to
them and says "Rememher now thy Cree
ator," "wilt thou not from this time cry
unto me, my Father, thou art tue guide
Of my youth q
Nowhere does the Bible encourage the
young to defer tins matter to any future
period in life, only when it gives an EN-
phatic check, and administers the most
pungent rebuko to those who would wish
first to enjoy for awhile the pleasures Of
time. 'kejoicc, O young man, in thy
youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the
days Of thy youth, and walk in the ways
Of thine heart and in the sight of thine
eyes; but know thou, that for all these
things God will lining thee into jadg-
mcnt."
2. II is pleasing to God. From the in.
vi:ations, promises and plain declarations
of the Bible, We know that God takes
pleasure in the conversion and salvation
of men. II it is pleasing to him TO see
those who have lived long in sin giving
themselves up to his service, certainly it is
more pleasing to see the Young resisting
the aI!uremeuts. and DENYING themselves
the pleasures Of the world to embrace the
Savior as their portion. When he sees
them thus Yielding to his will, and be-.
Iieving his promises surely it is pleasing
to him who 'Naketh pleasure in his peo.
pie" In this way they evinced their love
to God, and as evidence that be is pleas.
ed, he condescends to make them the spe-
cial objects Of his love. Hence lie SAYS
81 love them that love me, and those tina;
seek me early shall find me-" This pre-
cious promise. that he will be found Of
those who seek him carly, is evidence
that early pIety is especially pleasing to
him.
3. comparatively easy. From the
natural enmIly Of mans heart 10 good
and the self deniala to be made in the ser
vice of God, the commencement Of a re-
ligious life will be attended with difficulty
at any time yet it is easier and less striv-
ing is necessary, before the heart has long
been accustomed to do evil. l. not this
idea clearly presented in the passage,
"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or
the leopard his spotsl Theu may We al.
so do good, that are accustomed to 10
evil" The disease of sin is easier checked
In its first stage, and its down hill tenden-
cy is easier arrested before We have run
far in the broad road to destruction. So
long then as young persons live III stu, Just
80 long are they heaping difficulties in
their way to heaven, and cherished sins
to break off which, will be as pIucking out
a right eye and cutting off a righ; hand.
Let the young man remember it, that
in youth there are more
presented for engaging in the service Of
God than at any other period Of ffe.-
There is no other period that so well re-
cords with the teachings OF the Bible; no
ether, at which it will be more pleasing
to God, or when it will be as easily accom-
plished. e. y.
Wisdom requires three things-knowl