THE sole design of this little volume, is to urge the young to yield themselves to God. It interferes not with the minor distinctions that divide the followers of the Saviour; but inculcates that heartfelt Religion, whose importance they all unite in acknowledging.

The Author of the book has no expectation of its being applauded for elegance of language, or the beauties of imagination. He has not written seeking human applause as his reward; for what is human applause? the applause of a world whose duration is a span; of a world that will soon vanish away like smoke; of a world whose very existence may be next to forgotten by the soul, in the distant and interminable scenes of eternity. The minister of the gospel meets with the best commendation, not when the discourse he may have delivered from the pulpit or the press is much admired, much applauded, but when the sinner becomes dissatisfied with himself and bis pursuits; when the prodigal says, "I will arise and go to my father;" when the penitent weeps in secret over the crimes that have been brought to his review. Such applause the writer covets, and for such he does not hesitate to pray. He freely con fesses, that it is his desire to do something for pro

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PREFACE.

ви 4571

P53 1830

ANDOVER-HARVARD

THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY
CAMBRIDGE, MO

CONTENTS.

CHAP.

1. Introductory Address to the young Reader,
2. The fallen, guilty, and ruined state of Man,
3. Some of the sins of youth enumerated,
4. The nature of real Religion briefly described,...
5. Cautions against some delusive supports, on which
many rest their Hopes to their eternal Ruin,.. 97
6. The worth of the soul a reason for early Piety, 109
7. The importance of Religion further shown, by re-
ference to the counsel of the Most High, con-
tained in his Word,

8. The love of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, a rea-
son for early Piety,

9. Early Piety peculiarly acceptable to God, and peculiarly honoured by him,

...

PAGE.
7

21

51

86

......

....

10. The advantages of early Religion,

11. The pleasantness of early Piety,

12. The happy conclusion of a religious life a motive for early Piety.....

214

13. The future happiness of the young Christian a motive for early Piety,

230

.....

14. No real good possessed by those who are destitute of Religion,

121

134

.....

153

168

202

"

15. The young sinner's ingratitude to God, and cruel-
ty to his own soul, urged as reasons for em
bracing Religion in youth,
16. The vanity of youth, and the uncertainty of life,
reasons for the immediate choice of early Piety, 260

245

253

iv

CONTENTS.

17. The sorrows and dangers that attend the way of transgressors, a reason for the choice of early Religion. .. ............ ....... ........................* 267 18. The terrors and fearful consequences of death and judgment, to the unconverted, a reason for early Piety,

283

......

*****.

19. The eternal ruin of the ungodly a motive for the early choice of Religion,

20. The young Reader entreated to make his lasting choice,

.........

292

321

.......

21. Twenty objections to early Piety briefly stated and
answered,
22. The young Reader further urged to make no de-
lay in giving himself up to God,...........
23. Brief addresses to several classes of persons; and
a few directions to the young Christian,

305

340

347

THE sole design of this little volume, is to urge the young to yield themselves to God. It interferes not with the minor distinctions that divide the followers of the Saviour; but inculcates that heartfelt Religion, whose importance they all unite in acknowledging.

The Author of the book has no expectation of its being applauded for elegance of language, or the beauties of imagination. He has not written seeking human applause as his reward; for what is human applause? the applause of a world whose duration is a span; of a world that will soon vanish away like smoke; of a world whose very existence may be next to forgotten by the soul, in the distant and interminable scenes of eternity. The minister of the gospel meets with the best commendation, not when the discourse he may have delivered from the pulpit or the press is much admired, much applauded, but when the sinner becomes dissatisfied with himself and his pursuits; when the prodigal says, "I will arise and go to my father;" when the penitent weeps in secret over the crimes that have been brought to his review. Such applause the writer covets, and for such he does not hesitate to pray. He freely cons fesses, that it is his desire to do something for pro

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PREFACE.