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tmam 
 
 trUE A.C3-E 
 
 AND rra 
 
 YOUNG MEN". 
 
 A LECTURE, 
 
 DELIVERED BEFORE IIIB 
 
 gourig ^m's %istisn gssfltiation of falifat 
 
 ON THE OPENING OF THE SESSION 1857-8. 
 
 BY THl! 
 
 REV. JOHN HUNTER, 
 
 CRAIiHERS' FREE CHURCH, 
 
 HALIFAX. 
 
 . > • • t 
 
 ». • • • 
 
 
 t • • 
 
 • • • . • ' 1 \ ■ • « " 
 
 '• ".l.T* « 
 
 HALIFAX: 
 
 FMllrrED AT TOE WB8LBYAN OONFBBENCS STBAJI FRBBa 
 
 1857. 
 
 I 
 
• * Tbw Locturo woa norcr mtcndod for publication, and is now 
 
 Bcnt to tho press without muoli-uo<Hlcd cornxiUon. 
 
 J, H. 
 
 
 : :'"■'••'. 
 
 « « • 
 
 1 
 
 - . - . - • " - • 
 
 ' « 4 • • • . 
 
^ 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 Mb. President, — 
 
 The invitation with which your Association has honored me to ^ve the 
 opening Lecture of the season is a cause of no slight gi-atification. Yet 
 there mingles with the pleasure a sense of weighty responsibility, a pres- 
 sure of thoughts that long for utterance ; a solemn questioning with my 
 spirit as to how this present duty may be faithfully performed. 
 
 It is with tlie earnest desire to speak truths that may be pennanently 
 useful that I enter this evening on the consideration of some point* 
 oonnected with 
 
 THE AGE — AND ITS YOUNQ MEN. 
 
 The terms are somewhat indefinite. Perhaps, too, they are not very 
 •easy to define. Yet every one has a tolerably accurate idea of what is 
 meant by them without any formal explanation. All are familiar with 
 such expressions as the Augustan Age ; Ago of Louis 14th ; Age of 
 Charles 2nd ; — without fooling the need of nny research we attach at once 
 dititinct notions to those phrases. The first we at once speak of as a period 
 distijiguishod by tlie pcrtbction of its literature ; the second as a time that 
 exhibited tlie mingled glories of arms and of letters surrounded by royal 
 pomp ; while tlio third lias in point of space a more limited reference to 
 the land of England; and to a time when her cliaracter was disgi'aced by 
 the prevalonco of open unblushing profligacy. Thus we can understand 
 how a distinct notion maybe formed of what "this Age" means, even 
 ihoiigli the nunil)or of years over wliit^li it spreads may not be specified; 
 and also how it may present to the o})server a certain form or character if 
 lie can only roach a true point of view from wliicli to mark its fast fleeting 
 features. There is no doubt a considerable difficulty in a contemporary 
 forming an opinion of his own times. Ho lives too near the events, it 
 may bo, to ptu'niit him to look at them on all sides with philosopliic candor; 
 and his own character may be too much moulded by thuir influence. He 
 may be disposed to take too bright or too desponding a view of the state o 
 matters around him. Ho may exaggerate or diminish unduly their im- 
 portance. Novertheloss the very attempt to consider thom is practically 
 benoliciai; and if rightly conducted must lead to the cstabliiihinent of pro- 
 per principles of action, 
 
 58171 
 
Wm AQSI AND ITS TOUMa MEM. 
 
 When I speak, then, of Young Men and of this Age let me be undfei^ 
 Btood to mean by tlie former those who commonly go by that name ; those 
 whose characters are not yet fully formed, or their position iii society fully 
 established, — who are in the period of growth and enthusiasm, and who. 
 are, therefore, peculiarly liable to be affected biy the plastic influences 
 around them, fey the age let me bo understood to mean not simply a 
 certain number of years or given period of time, but also the habits, opin- 
 ions, literature, tendencies of that period. It is not necessary that these 
 habits and tendencies should be fully understood or set forth in distinct 
 language in order to produce an effect on the character of men. The 
 viewless air around is continually doing two mighty works of an opposite 
 nature. Imperceptibly and impalpably it is wearing away the rocks, eating 
 into tlio strength of the everlasting hills, crumbluig into ruins the once 
 solid walls of ancient castle towers ; while at the same time it is renewing 
 the face of the earth with the verdure of each succeeding spring, paiiting 
 the dreara-Uke beauty of the flower and building up the enduring strength 
 of the forest. So, imperceptibly, silently, the thoughts and habits of an 
 age may be wearing down, the manhood and character of a poeple, or may 
 be building them up into confirmed vigor. 
 
 It is of no small importance, then, that we should not allow the mighty 
 influences working on society around us to go on unmarked, unreckoned, 
 or unguided. It is of not less importance that we should come to the 
 consideration of them possessed of some right criterion of opinion and 
 action ; that all men, but especially young men should learn to measure 
 their age beside Eternity — nor allow the near and the little to shut out the 
 great and the abiding — nor thuxk as the untravelled or unread that all tho 
 world lies in sight of their own door, but rise to the contemplation of moro 
 extended views, of higher truth, of more permanent influences than can 
 be given by any limited views as to place or tune. 
 
 The river rises amid unseen mountains. It rushes on its course through 
 rifted gorge, or sweeps over tranquil plain. At one time thundering down 
 through rocks that offer opposition all in vain, at another gliding through 
 the fertile valley— now leaping with wild might from the precipice, again 
 spreading in majestic flow its many winding course, to hide itself in the 
 distant sea. Beside its banks in many quiet reaches whither it bends its 
 wandering wave, are cities, villages, and the scattered abodes of men. 
 Those who live beside its banks camwt behold the beginning or mark the 
 ending of its race. To them tho river is sunply that small part within 
 view bounded by the opposite side and the curving bend on either hand ; 
 and by far the greater number find in that narrow space their living world 
 of hope, fear, desire, influence.— Such is time. A stream flowing from 
 the heights of the bye gone Eternity untraversed by creature step, unseen, 
 by angel ken, and ever rolling on to join the unbegun Eternity beyond. Its 
 beginning is hid behind tho curtained darkness of chaos, its ending is lost 
 in the bnghtness of light inaccessible. Its course is varied, yet ever on,- 
 and on with resistless power to reach its destined goal. The generationa 
 of men dwell on its banks and the windings of the river hide each succeed- 
 
 * ♦^ 
 
 '■*/*. : 
 
^ 
 
 ^ HflB AOB AND ITS FOUNG MEN. 5 
 
 ing race from the other's view. Aaitirae curved round that headland your 
 inliuit life began ; when it rounds that farther point you will have sunk 
 beneath its waters. I'he most of men dwell witbia these reaches of the 
 river failing to think of the past even as they fail to see the future. Their 
 present time — its occupations, cares, ambitions are all in all to them. They 
 seldom rise to headlands of thoughts that they may look back where gene- 
 rations once a« active, as busy lived, who are now all silent and gone ; 
 seldom turn their gaze to the vast illimitable beyond, that dreaded point, so 
 as to feel how small the Present Now compared with the Hereafter. 
 
 I shall now invite your attention to certain statements which stand in 
 close connection with the foregoing general trutlis. You may call them 
 principles or facts whichever you may choose. JMy first fact or principle 
 is that the Age necessarily influences its Young Men. My second fact or 
 prir«We is that Young Men necessarily influence their Ago. 
 
 Wmn we consider what the Age really is — that it consists of the habits, 
 opinions, literature, tendencies of the time, it may seem almost a truism to 
 say that it exerts an influence on its Young Men. How can it bo other- 
 wise ? A man must be affected more or less by the moral and intellectual 
 atmospliere with whii-h he is snnoundod. Every one is aware of the 
 influence exercised on him by the daily companions of life — how insensibly 
 liis opinions are moulded by theirs, liow their habits of conduct, modes of 
 life, fashions, mannerisms, all hstvo some eflfeet in giving direction to his 
 thoughts and tone to his feelin,2s, so as to make him the man he actually is. 
 There is a natural dislike to aj)|»ear singular, which readily disposes many 
 to acquiesce in the views and customs of the multitude. Besides there is 
 a real power in the continual reiteration of the same opinions which none,- 
 not even the strongest minds, can wholly resist. This constantly enforced 
 expression of the same views meets us not only in ordinary conversation or 
 in the intercourse of business but in the more tangible and impressive 
 form of literature. 'Wq books — the current reading of any jxiriod are 
 genuine offshoots from its Ao^y'v hidden tendencies and thoughts. We 
 cannot imagine, certainly never heard of a literature which was read that 
 ran counter to the prejudices of its readers. And then how vast its effect, 
 especially on the y<.>ung. 8traiige thought I — the dead affect the living ! 
 A book — a printed page ! a still and silent thing convince and sway tibe 
 living mind of man. Y'et so it is — and who has not felt the magic tonch 
 with "which the silent words have swept his heart strings, rousing within the 
 minstrelsy of feeling. Not that the cold inanimate fonn can wield this 
 power ; that form is but the medium by which minds hold converse. Thus 
 whether it be by outward act — such as public fashions and national habits ; 
 or by the language of the living tongue of man, or by the printed page, 
 the aggregate opinion of the multitude necessarily must exercise a vast 
 inflnence on each memlicr of society. 
 
 It is not always enough to know a fact — ^we must also sometimes know 
 the reason of it in oi-der riglitly to comprehend the fact itself. Would we 
 have power to counteract or to guide the influence which the age exerts on 
 the individual, we must have some clue to the secret of its strength. It is 
 
 { 
 

 6 
 
 THB AGS AND ITS TOUNQ UlOr. 
 
 not simply that men are imitative animals, there if« a deeper reason for ihi» 
 wide spread imitation. Man does not copy blindly or without a plan, but 
 in accordanoo with docp-seated principles of his being. lie is so consti- 
 tuted that thau which is generally admired, excites within him a kindred 
 feeling of admiration ; and ho is forthwith impelled as by necessity to strive 
 after and imitate that which he has learned to admire. 
 
 I shall now ask your consideration of the fact or piinciple that Young 
 Men necessarily influence their Age. 
 
 Tlney form a large and an active part of every community. Perhaps of 
 all the classes of which eacli conununity is composed they are the most 
 likely to receive the impress of their time for good or for evil. If they do 
 nothing more than reflect in their own individual characters the character 
 of their period, then, like the mirror placed behind the Lighthouse lamp 
 that intensifies the blaze, throwing its beams over a greatly extende<^ sur- 
 face, they increase and continue the power of tliose tendencies which they 
 
 not origniate. 
 
 did 
 
 When the citizens of Athens grew in wealth they began to depart from 
 their former simplicity of living. The youths caught tne example, and 
 not content with mere invitation they advanced as far beyond the first 
 innovators as they had before their ancestral hardihood. Thus the Young' 
 Men intensified the evil of their tune by accelerating the downward course 
 of luxury and vice, which sunk the mi^ht of Athenian greatness and hid 
 the lustre of Athenian genius. 
 
 Up to this point I have been engaged in setting forth general views, and 
 no one can feel more fully than I do how meagre has been the statement of 
 tliem — they have ratlier been hinted at than unfolded. Let us now enter 
 on the more special investigation of what this Age is in relation to those 
 who live in it. 
 
 It would be trite, indeed, to talk of this as the Age of Progi-ess — of 
 the rapidity with which men travel and information spreads. Yet these 
 are great and influential facts. It is not less tme that men now-a-day» 
 live too rapidly, — ^there is a hastening to be rich — a hastening to be wise — 
 a hastening to be foolish — there is a break-ne(ik race of emulation or com- 
 petition in which not a few of the mnners stumble. 
 
 This is peculiarly an Age of combmation, of associated effort. For- 
 merly men trusted in Heroes — in great men, — now they look for help from 
 Joint Stock Companies or Afiiliated Societies. Is tlmre any new or great 
 thing to be done in Church or world ? then ther'; is a gatlioring together 
 of many heads and many hands, and the individual man is merged in the 
 Society or Committee of which he is a part. 
 
 This is an age of expediency and of materialism. There is a tendency to 
 make success the standard of excellence. Men strongly incline now-a-days 
 to let circumstances mould their principles rather than make prmciples 
 mould their circumstances. 
 
 This is an Age of great scientific attamment and of profound investigar 
 tion, — yet also of the most trivial superficiality, — the few dig deep for 
 knowledge — the many are content with a mere smattering of information. 
 
■■■P 
 
 THB AQB AND ITS TOUNO MZK. 
 
 }n for Uii» 
 plan, but 
 so consti- 
 a kindred 
 y to strive 
 
 hat Young 
 
 Perhaps of 
 I the most 
 If they do 
 I character 
 lOuse lamp 
 tended, sur- 
 ivhich they 
 
 lepart from 
 ample, and 
 id the first 
 the Young; 
 ward course 
 !ss and hid 
 
 1 views, and 
 statement of 
 s now enter 
 on to those 
 
 *rogress — of 
 Yet these 
 I now-a-daya 
 ;o be wise — 
 ,tion or com- 
 
 }fFort. For- 
 ■or help from 
 new or great 
 ing together 
 lerged in tho 
 
 a tendency to 
 ic now-a-days 
 ie principles 
 
 nd investigar 
 
 dig deep for 
 
 information. 
 
 . Yet think not that I wish to give sm tvil character to our Time. There 
 tre many an^?.ncie8 ut work for good — many for evil. There is much that 
 is ominous of danger — much that is full of h()[)e. The Ago is active — 
 earcest — practical. There is no time for dreaming, for inaction, for 
 triviality. All around may bo heard tho rusii of onward progress or tho 
 fiound of coming changes. They are heard in the (Jhurcli and in tho 
 world. Mercantile opert^ons are not now conducted as in fonner tiraesy 
 there is a pressure of competition, a hurry of occupjvtion and an intense 
 anxiety onco unknown. Political parties are brealving up before the growth 
 of new opinions, which are sweeping men onward they know not whither. 
 Social relations are changing, education is spreading, and the cndb of the 
 earth brought into unwonted contact are exerting a frosh influence on each 
 other. In the region of opinion things sacred and things profane are under- 
 going examination. I am not sorry for it. Men will nut ;eceive anything 
 as true simply because formerly believed. Miird is re.«tless in en(iuiry. 
 And yet with all this activity and power, betokening hardihood of thought, 
 there is a feature of the Age which presents a strange contrast to tho 
 foregoing. Tho general Literature most read is in character strikmgly 
 different from the general course of action. It is for tho most part light, 
 frivolous, relaxing in its nature, — nothing in it to brace up the mental 
 strength and fit it for genuine toil. And on that symptom I look with 
 alarm, for it betokens mucli of feverish, unhealthy excitement, in connec- 
 tion witli the active, vigorous striving of our time. It tells of a dangerous 
 undei-current which, if not counteracted, will drift the s<jcial vessel among 
 tho breakers. There have been plain signs given of its existence and of 
 its course in the alarming disclosures of reckless living and utter want of 
 principle, combined with singular skill and daring in the pecuniary frauds 
 of the old and new workl, — frauds that have stained the sliield of proud 
 names in the aristocracy of Britain — that have shown bad faith in the circles 
 of her merchant prhices whose very word was once inviolable — that have 
 eaten as a canker into classes of inferior name — that have spread as a 
 festering sore over whole districts of a great ueighl)ouring laml. 
 
 Now is there not cause for alarm when these two facts are considered in 
 their connection — that there there is abroiid in active exercise a spirit of 
 the most unsparing enquiry, at the very time when the great majority of 
 youthful minds are rapidly disqualifying themselves, either for thoughtful 
 examination or for intelligent reception of its results ? I repeat that I 
 rejoice in free unfetterred thought as a glorious privilege in itself, that as 
 a Minister of tho Gospel I am glad to behold on the one side scientific 
 research questioning the secret workings of the Creator, and on the other 
 side critical investigation trying and testing each fact, each doctrine con- 
 tained in the Word of the Kedeemer. But I should wish also that the 
 mmds to whom these results are to be presented should at least be capable 
 of mtmly thought. And it is not for readers of novels, or light skimmers 
 of magazines, for those who have emasculated their mental power by 
 frivolous engagements, whose knowledge of mankind is gamed in the ball 
 room or at the cai-d table, who, by yielding to luxurious desires, havo 
 
v^ 
 
 rnrr 
 
 wm^mm 
 
 I 
 
 8 
 
 THB AQB AND IT8 TOUNO MHN- 
 
 
 Btrcnn;tlicnc(l tho Imhit of indulgent and wcakoned the power of Belf^ 
 control, —it is not for suoh as these to look upon tlie inajostu- fuce of Truth 
 through the dark fogs of jMiHsionate prejudice, or the drifting clouds of 
 opposing argiun"nts. 
 
 We live not in an Age of Peace but of War. T speak not of tho 
 op[Hjsitton of contonding hosts, but of the great strife of opinion, of that 
 ancient feud lietween truth and error vfhicb has been so long an affair of 
 outyK).stH, but wliich now is ending in elose and deadly strife, — of opinion 
 which shall yet liuil the monarch from his throne and pluck the tiara from 
 tho priest, which sliall overturn Empires, remoulding the ha})its, the 
 characters, tlie destinies (jf their populations. It is a strife so tremendous, 
 that it resembles not the contentions of men but the unrestrained boister- 
 ousn(>ss of elemental war. On the one side we have the onward sweep of 
 infidelity, su|M.'rstilion, luxury, all united in one surging tide, the roaring of 
 which is as tli<; waves of the sea, while behind their front we may behold 
 with the j)ro[»het clouds of darkness and shapes of fear, tribulation and 
 anguish, the degradation of o\u- race and the rise of relentless tyranny. 
 On the other hand we beliold Christianity spreading her silver waves. 
 Hope sits enthroned on (he foremost bi'low, peace foUows serene behind. 
 Above, the An^ l having the everlasting (losjjel in his hand si)eeds on his 
 way, while once again we hear the voice of blessed immortals singing 
 there shall be glory to God in tho Highest, ou earth peace, goodwill to tho 
 children of men. 
 
 Now I address myself personally, to you Young Men. It is with a 
 feeling of intense s)ini)athy that I do eo. Yon have honored me with an 
 invitation to address you this nigiit as an Instructor. JJelieve me that 
 while doing so, I take you to my heart with a brother's love. Let me, 
 Mien, claim the privilege of affection and speak to you with all honesty, 
 and all boldness. 
 
 First, let me recapitulate. We have already found that tho Age neces- 
 sarily influences its Young Men. That Young Men must necessarily 
 influence their Age. Thei'e is ever going on a constant flow and ebb of 
 invisible power, 'J'liere is a continual acti()U and reaction of mighty 
 agencies that are affecting the interests of our race; and the question 
 before you is this. Who is to be predominant, the Age or i^s living Young 
 Men? Are your circumstances to mould you, or will you mould your 
 circumstances V Are you to be mere passi'e atoms in the midst of active 
 agencies around, taking your habits, characters and opinions from others, 
 reflecting and perjK'tuating them without the exercise of any res[)onsible 
 influence of your own 'i Or will you rise up to tlie height of your true 
 dignity as sharers in the lordship over this lower world ? 
 
 Deem not that I speak to you of impossibilities when I call on you to 
 do your share in moulding your age, and not to permit it wholly to 
 influence you. It is no visionary scheme of Quixotic enterprise that I 
 set before you. The opinions, habits, character of an Ago arc but tho 
 aggregate of its Individuals ; and you, each of you, the youngest, feeblest, 
 leaat influential, owe a duty to your generation, and are able to benefit it. 
 
 in 
 
 t. 
 
 # 
 
T" 
 
 r of Hftt^ 
 
 of Truth 
 
 clouds of 
 
 ot of the 
 1, of that 
 I affair of 
 f opinion 
 iara from 
 i})its, the 
 mcndous, 
 d l)oister- 
 Hweop of 
 roaring of 
 iiy behold 
 ation und 
 I tyranny. 
 i'v waves. 
 10 liehind. 
 :'(ls on hia 
 Is singing 
 ^vill to tho 
 
 is with a 
 c with an 
 
 me that 
 Let me, 
 
 1 honesty, 
 
 Lgo necci>- 
 iecef<Harily 
 lul ebb of 
 of mighty 
 ) question 
 ng Young 
 ould your 
 t of active 
 Dm others, 
 'es[)onsiblo 
 your true 
 
 an you to 
 wholly to 
 ise that I 
 c but tho 
 t, feeblest, 
 benefit it* 
 
 Tin AG! Alts ITS TOUNQ tfKN. 9 
 
 But, in order that you may do bo, you must learn habits of mental hardi- 
 hood ; you must resist evil, and join yourself heartily to that whieh is 
 good. There is a tendency of the "age to associated effort, which I have 
 already noticed ; and this, though good in itself, may have an adverse 
 influence on your Individuality — may tempt you to sink your personal 
 influflnce, your personal responaibility. Beware, I pray you, of this 
 temptation. 
 
 In this time of expediency you will be tempted often to do what will 
 succeed rather than what is right. Remember that success is fleeting-^- 
 that truth abideth for ever. Take care what you read : you cannot feed 
 on poison and live ; you cannot live on slops and be muscular : so neither 
 can fyou nourish your mind on pollution, or strengthen it on effemmate 
 fictions. Cultivate true manlmes?. " My son, if sinners entice thee, consent 
 thou not." Be not afraid — be not ashamed to say to empty-headed sin- 
 ners around you, " I will not do this wickedness and sin against my God." 
 Cherish high aims— lofty aspirations. Seek after that which is noble. 
 Cultivate the true heroic spirit — the true sy)irit of patriotism : lot your 
 first duty be to your God — your second to ^our country. 
 
 But the Age holds continual comraunic tion with you — ^you drink in its 
 influence at every pore. There is a strange fascination in th».examplo of 
 fashion — a strange power in the continual silent pressure of companions 
 and of business occupations. Yes, and y<ju often feel that this is real 
 slavery of spirit, while you writhe under the sorcery from which there 
 seems to be no disenchantment — for that which you can see with bodily 
 eye, toucli witli bodily hand, hear with bodily ear, — hem you in on every 
 side. Yes, and it is these things which ediicatt the majority of our young 
 men. There are two educations which we all receive — that of the school, 
 and that given by Society aiound : at sclu»ol we are taught knowledge, 
 but society teaches us wliat to admire. The youth leaves his father's 
 house ; or, reiiiuining tliere, begins to mingle in other ciicloft. He hears 
 their conversation, observes their habits, and without any formal 'raining 
 imperceptibly catclics their tone. Tliar wliicli his companions admire, ha 
 learns to admire ; and tlierefore, that wliich thoy do, he learns to do. 
 
 Hence, we have in one set, our Fast Young Man. He has early 
 learned to admire the habit of reckless expenditure. He aspu-es to the 
 character of an (>])eu-han(led, generous fellow. Tear aside the veil, i;nd 
 let him stand forth for what he really is ; — his generosity ! the extreme of | 
 selfish indulgence — liis open-handed liberality, tlve meanness of dishonest^ 
 to others. 
 
 And we have in another set our Good-matured Young Man — no one's 
 enemy but his own. He is pleasantrtempered when not quite dmnk, and 
 always willing to oblige when he has enough intellect at his disposal to 
 enable him to do so. 
 
 And we have our Gay Young Man. He is the life of parties. Who. 
 eo merry 'l and who so agreeable ? And at his own home, how often. 
 nurly, ill-tempered, and disobliging. 
 
f: 
 
 
 ir 
 
 10 
 
 THE AOB AND ITS TOLNQ MEM. 
 
 I will not spoak before this audience of deeper and darker stains of 
 character ; 1/nt I will warn you against that Education of admiration 
 wliii^h hocicty ton -enerally j^ives to its Young Mon — an education, the 
 results of xkliicli arc too often seen in fair hopes blighted — in young live8 
 early (jucikIkmI — in mnny a father's heart bowed Avitli sorrow — in tho 
 sanctuary of many a niotfior's chamber, made a place of bitter weeping — 
 in the (Iriftiug wrecks of humanity which float, alas ! far too frequently, 
 on the surface of society. 
 
 There was :i youno; inau once — a stranger, a captive, and a youth — ^far 
 from his fatlicr's dwclliiig ; yet ho did not despond. Ho was a diligent 
 plodder. Whatever work was given him to do, he did it carefully and 
 well. He was assaih^l by temptations to vice such as few have ever been 
 tried with and have resisted, yet he maintained his virtue. And that 
 lonely slave, that |)atient [)loilder, rose to be Prune-minister of Pharaoh — 
 to bo lord of Egypt. 
 
 There was also another young man — a captive too — but surrounded by 
 no hardships. He was the cherished inmate of a I'oyal palace. Luxuries 
 were heaped on him. Tie was tempted, entreated, commanded to uso 
 them. But he purposed in his heart to follow a noble course, he entered 
 on the path of self-deiiia]. That man attained the favor of God and tho 
 friendship of kings, and his name hath come down to us garlanded with 
 the renown of wisdom. 
 
 Need I remind you of ^Villiam Pitt, at the age of 23 ruling in tho 
 Senate of Britain and guiding the affairs of tliat Empire on which tho 
 Sun never sets; of Napoleon Buonaparte, at 2G con((ueror of an adverse 
 destiny and victor over lt:dy ; or of Hanuihal, the great cnjitaln of anti- 
 quity, who at 2") had already done (niougli for fame? Wliat was tho 
 secret of these men's success V Take a liandrul of feathers: throw them 
 against that wall. Y^ou CMUiKjt ; the slightest breeze blows thora back ; 
 the ordinary resistance of tlio air cannot lie oviM'cotne liy thorn. Take 
 tho-se same fcathiTs — conqircss tlivni : they will make a ball that 3'ou can 
 hurl to its mai'k in face of a rushing tempest, that can make its way 
 throuoh every .ilisi;a!e. Now. let tliis illustration teach the true answer 
 to my (j^uery, What was tlie secret of these men's success? It was con- 
 centrated power of ]mr])os(', leading to concentrated energy of character. 
 They did not dissipate their strength on trifles, (ir they never wouhl have 
 stood forth as mighty anaaig tiie children of men. Imitate them in this 
 respect (I speak not of their chaiacteis generally), bnt u\' tlieir undaunted 
 mental hardihood. Let your aims be honest and nolile, tlien fellow thcra 
 out witli refiolute determination. Then, though you may not be great, 
 you will live so as to bo useful: when you die, you will he, mis'-ed. 
 
 And now come, young man! come for awliile — sland under tho 
 shadow of the unseen, ^fhe Age is fast passing away: all those things 
 which s(KMn so great and abiding, so tem]>ting and pleasant now. shall 
 won fide away. Beyond your present heallli is a time of sickness ;■ 
 beyond }our pres:>nt life is tho hour of ileath; beyond your present indtv 
 
THJB AGE AND ITS YODNO MEN. 
 
 11 
 
 rker stains of 
 ' admiratiQn 
 Incation, the 
 young lives 
 •vow — in tho 
 jr weeping — 
 
 freiiuently, 
 
 1 youth — ^far 
 ras a diligent 
 3arefuily and 
 ve ever been 
 
 And that 
 f Pharaoh — 
 
 rroundcd by 
 e. Luxuries 
 nded to U80 
 ;, he entered 
 Jod and tho 
 rlundod with 
 
 |iendence is the Judgment Throne, before which, all helpless and alone, 
 you must stand in tlie presence of God. Would you rightly do your duty 
 to your age ? Would you rightly prepare for meeting with your Judge ? 
 Then let mo point you to a higher than earthly example for your imitation, 
 to a higher than earthly model for your admiration. Talce (hiuiST Jesus 
 to be your Guide in life, and He will not forsake you in death. He hath 
 condescended not only to become the Atoning .Sacrifice, but also tho 
 Example for His people. Once He lived on earth, a young man, tried 
 and " temi)ted in all points like as you are, yet without sin ;" so that Ho 
 is able to sympathize with you in your difficulties, as well as to save you 
 from your sins. When the mighty angel sliall plant one foot on the sea 
 and the other on dry knd, and swear by Him that liveth forever and ever 
 that Time shall be no longer — when Ages, and Centuries, and Milleniums 
 fiave been swallowed up in Eternity — then may you, Young Men — may 
 you, each one of my hearers, rejoice with osceuding joy in the brightnea 
 of Everksting Day ! 
 
 ruling in tho 
 n which tho 
 if an adverse 
 itain of anti- 
 hat was tho 
 tlu'ow tliem 
 tlicm back ; 
 lioin. Take 
 tlnit 3'ou can 
 iiako its way 
 : true answer 
 It was con- 
 of cliaracter. 
 ■ would Iiavo 
 them in this 
 ir unihiunted 
 t loilow them 
 lot 1)0 great, 
 lis^od. 
 
 d under tho 
 tlinse tilings 
 t now, sli;;!l 
 of sickness ; 
 present indo- 
 
 
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