The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-23
SERMON TO YOUNG MEN.

preached by Rev, A. A. Willis, ID. D., pastor
OF the West Arch Street Presbyterian Church.
The pews leading from the middle aisle OF that
large and beautiful church were reserved for
gentlemen, and some time previous to the CON-
mencement of the services every seat in the
house, including galleries, was occupied, aud
the aises and every available space crowded
The distinguished pastor of the West Arch
delivered his sermon in his usual eloquent aud
attractive style, as follows, taking tor his
bubjeCt:-
BE thou strong, therefore, and sb3,e hy5s + a
qndn.n-1 Kings ii, 2
These spirit.stirring words nay young
brethren, were originally addressed to a very
remarkable young man by most distinguished
person, on a very memorable occasion. Ehey
are no less than the dying words OF David the
King and Pealmist OF Israel, addressed 10 his
son and successor, Solomon The sacred writer
informs us that the days OF David drew nigh
that he should die, and he charged solomon
his son, sayiug:-"l 20 the way OF all the earth;
b. tnou strong, therefore, and show thYset a
n8r.n "ShOw thyselt man ~ How Orlet aud
vet how COmnfenunsiYe | know not no Y tae
intense solICItude OF a dying parent could have
found otter utteraDce. The dylug king looked
upon his NOBLE son, standing there 10 tue bloom
and beauty o. his youth, in all the fres lness
and yIgOT OF LIES morning, and as he thought
OF the great re responsibilities that were soon TO
rest upon him, of the great eXoectations that
were ceDtrlng in him, OF the sublime op2orLu-
destiny that was opening before him; aud as he
thought, also, Of the pcrs aud diticuueS that
oByuo him, his heart was too full for
lengthy utterance, and he could only say: "Be
thou strong, Therefore, and show thyset mani
My dear young brethren, in responding to the
request of the Young Mems Christian Asso,ia-
tion OF this city, that would address discourse
this evening particularly to young men, could
think OF no senteLCe or sentiment among tue
vast number of wise, good, timely, d5lyspOkeu
sayings with which this divine volume abounds
Tnp al "a m n ut,.Fp
and soul-quickening circumstances that surround
them than these last bIiet bat earnest words of
the great king to his princey son.
Indeed my friends the text is but q comDre.
hensiVe and Just expression of the whole spirit
aud letter OF Gods Word in all its appeals and
admonitious, directions aud promises, wo)ings
and warnings to Young men. That they may "be
strong" in principle, in purpose, and in charac-
ter, and that they may show themselves men. is
the perfect will OF God concerning them. Yes,
may may take take manly views Of life. Tnit they they
may adopt manly principles OF action.
That they may perform manly deeds; aud
through these things cultivate manly char.
acter: and thus by a manly career secure
manly destiny. This is the conclusion of the
whole matter. | say that they may take manly
views of lie, of its exalted duties Of Its solemn
responsibilities of its sublime privileges of its
glorious opportunities, and of the magnificent
destiny OF immortality that may follow IT. l
say that they may adopt many PRINCIPLES of
action; principles that will meet the approval
of reason, OF conscience, aud OF God; principles
that viii stand the tesl OF time OF deaih, and of
judgment; principles that Will constitute the
souls noblest equipment and ornament here,
and her beautiful regaia when perfected before
the throne of God IN heaven!
say that they may perform manly deeds: deeds
that will bless and beautlty the world in which
they 1--we: deeds that will yield to their own
souls the sweetest satisfation in lie AMI in
death: Deeds that will live IN the memory OF the
good when they, the authors, have passed away:
deeds whose echoes they will no. busl TO hear
even upon the plains OF lght!
Yes, these oref words OF David to his son, my
dear young friends, comprise in substance the
whole Will of God and the desire of all GOOD
men concerning yOu-that usmay be strong
and show yourselves men.
IL intimated that this language was uttered
by David to solomon, in view of the great
responsibilities that were about to rest upon
hin. The king Of great nation was passing
away from the duties OF time to the rctri0utions
him Was his predestined successor; he
must step now into that fathers place; all the
vast interests OF that great nation so intimately
connected with the interests of Gods spiritual
Kingdom and the present and eternal welfare of
mankind would SOON devolYe, under God, upon
him. On 4! what motive to heed the dying
admonition OF his parent, and to grid up the
ioins of lis soul and show himself man! My
dear young friends, need remind you that Jou
stand in almost precisely such position as did
the .oros son of David? Yes,s al the great
God, OF society, and OF the world dev0lqe
by inevitable destiny upon the young men of
this generation. You, and you only, yo ung
men, are the pred9stined successors of all who
now WELD influence or occupy position in the
world. The swiftly flying days will soon bring
you in contact with these stupendoBs RESPONSE
bllities, responsibilities which it is impossible
for you to escape. If you even desired to, you
could neither elude them nor deyolve them
upon others. 1t is destiny as fixed as death !
'Thsre is no escape in this war;" the draft OF
Almighty God is upon you, and there is no
escape except through treachery and cowardice
and eternal iniamy. And that is no escape at
all. Yes the young men OF the present gene
ration, and none others, are to mould and
fashion, under Cod, the succeeding generation
of mankind. They are to be its intellectual
givers and rulers. They are to manage all it's
material Interests They are to plan aud prose-
cute all its Improvements and deliberations. In
aword, upon them, aud upon them alone, the sue
cess of all the great material, intellectual, moral
and religious Interests and enterprises of society
under God, is made dependent.
God has provided no other agents for these
great works but the rising generation of young
men. They, and they only, are TO meet the
manifold demands OF the present ana all the
know am utterlng what has been so Oft re.
peated that it has become trite. Wolld TO God
that could dlvest this great law OF human eX-
istence and of Divine providence of its impo-
tency a. hackneyed truism, and clothe il
with something of the freshness and potency of
newly discovered truth!
Would to God that we could make the young
men OF this day feel 1t, as well as admit it'll All!
there Is great dhereuCe between the know
ledge OF truth aud the dEAyictiOn OF truth
We want 10 bring young men under conviction
of this Sublime fact of their position. They
would need no other argument to wake them
no. The stupendOus truth, felt in all the depths
OF their nature, thatthese great responsibilities
like mighty army, were coming upon quick
step to meet them, would be like the bugle Of
batte to the sleeping soldier.
Il I1.y,y. 49,.