The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-03
THE CITY PULPIT.
1.-THE FAIR WARNING.

,rootber n poodly number of persons assennOieu
:. ,ho Tabernacle Baptist Church, Chestnut
s,rent vestof Eighteenth, last evening, to listen
to the last of a series of sermons before the
Young Peoples Association OF this Church
The sermon last evening was delivered by the
nastor of the church, Rev. G. A. Peltz, VINO
selected for his text the following words =
',Reioce young man. in thy youth and az ieS a shg
in he Ways OF thine heart and in the sight s 9t iod
sys s but kPoT 81, Snop i5 sas Rment x
The following is an abstract of the dtscourse:
Gods proyidential allotments are so arranged
that at the judgment every mouth VIII oe
etopped, and all the world become guuCy pelore
Him The pagan world, though unehiiSntened
hy The Scriptures, will stand thus:-"BeCause
that. when they knew God, they glorlhed Him
moi rs God, neither we're thankful; pat because
vain in their Imaglnallons, and IhelI looiisn
heart was darkened"-"So that they are with.
out excuse.n ,,o..,os hoe,.,
Far more, then, shall those be sllenced before
God who from under the clear llght OF lnsplra-
fion 90 nm to His bar unreconciled ana unTe-
deemed. But among those Of this latter class
there shall be differences OF culpaolllty' OhrlsI
taught that for Tyre and Sidon, and lor Sodom
and Gomorrah, 1t should be more tOleraoIe Va tue
day OF Judgment than for Capernaum auI geru-
SALEM and doubtless for Capernaum an Jeru-
salem it shall be more tolera0le than Tor US OF
modern Philadelphia.
To our general scope OF privilege, however
special additions have been made in tue series
of sermons before the Young OF this congrega,,
ton. Faithfully have your preachers presented
the truth, and as we reach the end OF thls course
we can but look for results commensurate WIN
the opportunity Much has been attained.
Thirty converts mostly young persons, nave
here professed Christ since this series began
But alas how many of our young are still un-
saved and unprepared for judgment! For such,
that they may not receive the greater condem-
nation, bring the warning of my text,
This message is addressed to young men, 1t
is not, however, in any exclusive way, but SIM
ply to such as the type of all youthful joyous
ness and vigor Tue career to which the youth
is here hidden, is just such as most charms the
young. Rejoice, young man, in thy youth"
says the wise man. Yes'u e! reply the young
mcnt. This direction is admirable We are
ready to obey it. Away then with long visages.
with sober looks, with subdued laughter, and
with restrained mlrtb. We will be happy in our
youth"
Nor is it to be wondered at that the young
should be so charmed with prospects of enjoy
ment. Seriousness and gravity may become
those advanced in lite, but joyeusness sits as a
crown Of glory upon the brow OF the young.
We should be happy in youth. 1t is so full of
VigOr, of enthuslam, of hope. and so free from
trial, and care, and pain. 1t is the morning of
life, as yet unoppressed with the MONDAY heat,
unsullied with the dust of the MONDAY toll, un-
disturbed by the hustle of the MONDAY strife.
When the newly rising sun tints the very clouds
with glory, and transmutes the lowy dewdrops
luIO uldIOnue, ~ lS IH6 SpIluB-JlluG OI llle.
When the interchange of sunshine and shower
deyelope vernal beauty, and arrays the earth
IN the Vestments OF God when every shooring
blade, and swelling bud, and opening leaf is
creature is vocal with praise, oh, at this bright
time, in youth, if ever in our lives, we should
rejoice. So far, then, as concerns the first direc-
tlon OF our text, the young accept, and every
voice OF God commands it-youth Is the time
SOr Joy.
But enjoyment varies greatly in its char
acter and sources. There is that which
flows from above, and which is pure and pre-
Cious, but there is also that which is from
below, and which is dark and damning. The
language of the clause we have in hand does
not determine aught as to source or character
1t simply bids the young man rejoice in his
so to do, we mean, of course, that the Joy be
from proper source and of a proper kind.
But the other clauses of our text fix the mean
ing of the wise man, "Rejoice, young man, in
thee in the days of thy youth" His own heart
IS the source of the desired cheer. Not, per-
haps, in the restricted sense of heart, that is,
the emotional part, but in the broader sense Of
all his inward resources of what kind sOever.
The direction supposes self-suficiency in this
matter OF enjoyment. 1t implies that ones
heart can cheer him, and then it directs its
allowance. "Let thy heart cheer thee" How
readily do the young, and. others too, accept
thls supposition and adopt this direction They
are conscious OF likes and disikes, OF preferences
and preludces of desires and aversions. In
dulgence of these emotions is supposed to
guarantee enjoyment. To be all untrammelled
IN this indulgence is, to many of the young, the
ldeal OF true liberty, the inevitable harbuger of
solid pleasure. Each one pants to be 'lOrd of
hlmself,n little dreaming il a "heritage OF woe.n
Lea on by such ideas, how many pass from
innocent emplOyments to questionable, and
from questionable to culpable! Recreation
merges INTO dissipation; freedom into licentIous-
ness; conyiVialty into debauchery. SelEsufA.
ClCDCY and sPlf-in1ulOnnpp attractive fhOngb
lily seem, nevertheless rest upon their victims
axe SIRENS charm or an enchanters spell.
i dhe correctness OF our Interpretation thus far
4S clearly shown by the next clauses of our text.
mere the wise man says;-'Walk in the WAYS of
lhIne heart, and in the sight of thine eyes.H
nhaleVeI De the chosen way of thine heart.
hhetBerto tne right hand or to the left whether
TO or from God; whether ii be "the stTs,gbt and
marrow way" or ''the broad way which Seadnth
70 Destruction" whatever that way be, walk
So, too, ain the sight of thine ewes. y that l.
according to your own observations. True,
thine eyes cannot peer into the future tbev
cannot see the end from the beginning they
Gahnot trace tiny complicated relationships.
True, they are easily dazzled or even blinded
yet "WGR az their hdchiagsn In short. tba
rejoicing presented IN our text is simply such as
can be secured BY complete sef-suficiency and
se sseelilnduigence. Religion, and all from without
and the end OF the Joy here presented,
- But how shall such direction be understood
U0es the wise man approve of such career
What say you, young friends does he annrovf
such Sh course? No, is your prompt response
SNoA SuCh s not proper life for any man. No wise
Joea tSn not Sopdo commend it,. True, and Solomon
1yes SSS h1t commend it; for hear him. In chapteI
Si, Xli, + he says, Remember now thv Creatay IL
t aSys Oh my youthn Self IS not exalted here
this i as the coScusono In chapter xii 49, he
Fear God, and keep His oomma1 mnUl1 enOrt, W. "
this Is the whole duty of man y eIS iunShtsi Io
Is here again stricken down Sei'Huulgehc'
Nor does that greater autboritu GU