The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-03-09
els THE YOUNG MAN SAFE p

thought that this dream Of security becomes
confident as insecurity becomes imminent.
And no darker shade can be pointed out in
the picture of society at the present time,
than that which is seen in the condition ef
multitudes of the young men who throng our
cities and villages-and alas, our prisons
and penitentiaries. ~
We may well rejoice that so many have
entered upon the path Of safety during the
past year. But what are they to the four or
Eve millions Of young men who are vet o,a
Of that path, wanderers from their Fathers
house, That irrepressibIe outgush of the
fathers emotion in view Of the ruin of be-
loved son, which SO much excited the friends
Of David, was but the precursor Of many .
similar scene in the households Of our own
day. I" And the king was much moved, and
went up to the chamber over the gate, and
wept: and as he went, thus he said, o my
son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom
would God had died for thee, o Absalom
my son, my son!" Nor did it bring calm-
ness to his agitated soul to know that his
friends we're ashamed at what they regarded
as an exhibition of his weakness. He still
/" covered his face, and cried with loud
voice, 0 my son Absalom, my son, my son r
While such scenes are so common and so
heart-rending, ia il improper for US to invest
the question Of David with a new meaning
and new emphasis. while we solemnIy ask,
"Ls The yotalg man safe ?" Is he safe in
respect to his principles? 1t has become
quite fashionable in some quarters to sepa-
rate principle from practice. According TO
many, and many who profess, par ercellence,
to be the friends of the young, young man
may believe what he pleases, or discard all
belief, receive the truth or receive lie, and
yet be equally safe. The confessions Of
many and many young man in our prisons,
and well.known facts in innumerable cases,
most conclusiyely prove that those subtle
and ever changing systems which teach
what the carnal mind and the conscience i'll
at ease so greatly relish-that character and
conduct here are not followed by destructive
consequences hereafter, has been the license
/ for many a downward career. And nothing
can be more natural. Once quiet the cen
science with the delusion so welcome, that
all is well for eternity irrespective Of prin-
ciple and character, and all other restraints
are but the feeblest protection. Principle,
and principle based upon Cots truth, and
consonant with an enlightened Christian
conscience, is indispensable to safety. And
eve principle alone is not enough.
HB The yosnig man sgfe" in respect to hrs
habits? Unsafe habits are numerous, and
sometimes in their first appearance, very
harmless and even very plausible. Habits
Of irreverence for the name, the day, the
mouse, and the truth of God, are the almost
certain precursors Of habits that degrade US
i - al r. Ill - A L.I t,htf
once confirmed, is dire calamity, as well
as personal degradation. How often have
slaves to lust struggled in vain to get free.
Young men should take warning. They
should realize that the temptations Of youth
have, in late years. greatly multiplied. Yet
greatly as this increases their danger, they
should know that temptation, in itself, is
not necessary evil to the tempted. If
firmly met and resisted, it may be blessing
John Bunyan could say Of his temptations,
!" have found nest Of honey in the carcass
of the lion that rodred upon me-" IL is not
the temptation that in itself creates the dan
ger, but il is the wayward heart that yields
to il, aud thus leads one into unsafe habits.
"is tie young man SAFE in respect TO his
companionship? Z" He that walketh with
wise men, shall be wise but the companion
Of fools shall be destroyed" The young
man AbsaIom. long before his sad end, asso-
ciated himself with fools. And so do all
young men before they are destroyed. No
principles and no habits are pure enough
long to withstand the deadly influence of in
innate association with the principles and
habits of the profligate Or sccptical.
!. That was most instructive confession,
made BY young man some months ago,
when arrested for crime against his coun-
ltry's laws. In bitterness of soul he exclaim.
ed, oh. hare iued FOO Jast.' In an evil
hour he yenturcd first to select the fast
liversy for his companions, and then he was
easily deceived into their mode Of living.
And well did the eloquent counsel for the
prosecution, in his concluding plea, say TO
the Jury, '.Ah, gentlemen, the pivot on
which all this sad drama turns, is condensed
into that single confession, 1" ! haze iUed Zoo
! fast" Momentous words. They should
fall from this courtroom Ikea tocsiu on the
giddy whirl Of young men below. The null
titude who have watched with varied emo
tions, but all with intense interest, the pro-
gress Of this trial, should carry il Iorth. and
spread 1t in all the popular resorts Of youth,
~ haze Rued foo fast"
"b The young man SAFE in respect TO his
, soufs dearest interests2 Z How often does the
unexpected death.bed extort, from the lips
Of the dying youth, the late confession Of the
young English nobleman; my life has
been lost iJe. thought religion was .
. melancholy thing. Here ! am dying. aud
: find il is The only thing srorih hduing." Ia
numberless cases, young men find out thi:
when they can only bewail their destitutior
Of this " only thing worth having in lruit.
less aud hopeless lamentation. The greai
mass of young men are building their hopes
! upon the shaiting and drifting sand. Th,
great business oflife is neglected, and III,
soul is lost. 80 that they were wise, tha