Litchfield enquirer., 1861-01-03
Communications.
 COUNSELS TO YOUNG MEN
NEw SEsIEs-No. l.

NEW SEklES-NO. l.
 If I remember right, youg gentlemen, when suspended my counsels last spring, partly prom ised to renew them. on some other topics II my life and health should be spared. Inowproceed to give you some of my thoughts upon Self GocernnaeaM
 If among all the topics. which are not strict ly religious, there is one of higher practical mo- ment to young men, hardly know what it is "He that is slow to anger, is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh city" And so in contrast, " He that hath no rule over his spirit, (his temper) is like city that is broken down and without walls." selfgovernment, is the habtual mastery and control .ofall our spent passions and appe tites. Nis government in fact, and not pu, pose merely ia government not ftful and wa vsring in its administration, bnt executive, uni form and determined. 1t is emphatically home and independent government.
 As citizens of the state, you are amenable to it's law, whether you like them or not; but in this regard, you are your own governors, inds- pendent of all human co-ertions. As no earthly power can hinder you from ruling your own spirits from governing your appetites your passions and your tongues, 80 nobody can force you to indulge them, te your own or others in- jury. Though God has delegated the control of the passions, to reason and conscience, they are so prone to rebel, So easily excited and often so quick and impetuous in their onset, that it re- quires constant watchfulness to restrain and keep them under. This vigilance you must ex- ercise. Your friends, though they may have more age and experience, and may cxhort you as do now can't do it for you.
 How then is an efficient selfgovernment to be established and maintained? This is the first question; and answer it cannot be effectually done. by mere sober conviction of it's impor- tance. It is not done by forming any number of good resolutions, though they are essential to success. It is confessedly a very difficult thing; for an irascible man.to govern himself is harder, than to govern family, or even state. We have seen from the Proverbs, that the man who ruleth his own spirit, in other words who gov erns himself, is greater conqueror than he who takes city; but hard as it is, it can be done. It has often been done by Divine help, in some of the most difficult cases. God has endowed ev- cry man with the ability, to bring and keep his restive passions and appetites, under subjection, if he will but use the power. If he lets them get the mastery, it is his own fault. Men of the most nervous and impulsive temperament, have by firm and steady hand, brought the most un- ruly of these passions under quiet submission. Ror they have done it, and how you my young friends can do it, is the great practical question.
 in the first place, the earlier you betake your selves to the task, of selfgovernHaent, the easier will you establish and maintain it. It cannot be commenced too early. Just as soon as the appetites begin to clamor for unlawful or exces- sive indugences, just as soon for example, as the emotion of anger begins to 'chafe and struggle for the ascendency; just as soon as any of the passions begin to be developed, they must be resisted and suppressed.
 Not day, not an hour should be lost. If lot alone, they will grow with your growth, and strengthen with your strength. Nay, they will grow much faster than reason gains power to control them. Have none of you found this sad ly verified already in your own experience? Do you not find, how much harder it is to resist your evil propensities, than it was when you first gave way to their importantly?
 It would be wrong to assert that he who fails of establishing selfgovernment early in life, can never do it; for the power though greatly weak eaed by delay. is not destroyed. But these who have gained the victory later, will tell you, that 1t has cost them immense trouble and they will never cease to lament, that they did not bring their passions under the control of reason. con- science and the word of God when it would have been 30 much easier
 Second, The only sure basis of self.eovern- nent. IS moral and religious principle. Good resolutions may do something; regard for pub hc opinion, n,whcn it frowns upon base indulgences ana violent ebnlitions of passion, may do more; but neither of them affords any reliable securitv asalnst suddea insults or violent temptations. AOu must settle it in your minds, that to yield, ls s'nfaL When the temptation is presented you must instantly answer with Joseph. !" How shall do this great thing. and sin against God Nothing less will stand you instead in the mo nent Of strong temptation. If you have not tn, fear of God before your eyes; ifyou do not re member that his eye is ever upon you, and tha he wall not hold you guiltless; in any violation of his Esr. you will be in danger of throwin, your best resolutions to the winds, and of bein, taken in the snare of the devil, and led captiv by him at his will Resist him at all points an, he will flee from you. Put yourselves unde Gods protection and he will keep you. Lool to him in prayer for grace and strength to resis those unruly enemies within and without, whic war against the soul, and he will hear you. Il no other way, my young friends, can you ever b sure of gaining the mastery over yourselves o ruling your own spirits; of bringing into subjec ton your depraved passions and appetites.
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