Southern Christian Advocate

YOUTH

From the Watchman of the South.

DR. ALEXANDER'S LETTERS.

Counsels of the Aged to the Young.

My Dear Young Friends: I proceed to observe;

I. Cherish and diligently cultivate genuine piety. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

Early piety is the most beautiful spectacle in the world. Without piety all your morality, however useful to men, is but a shadow. It is a branch without a root. Religion, above every other acquisition, enriches and adorns the mind of man; and it is especially congenial with the natural susceptibilities of the youthful mind. The vivacity and versatility of youth, the tenderness and ardor of affections in this age, exhibit piety to the best advantage. How delightful is it, to see the bosoms of the young swelling with the lively emotions of pure devotion! How beautiful is the tear of penitence or holy joy, which glistens in the eye of tender youth! Think not, dear young people, that true religion will detract from your happiness. It is a reproach cast upon your Maker, to indulge such a thought. It cannot be. A God of goodness never required any thing of his creatures, which did not tend to their true felicity.—Piety may indeed lead you to exchange the pleasures of the theatre and ball-room, for the pure joys of the church and oratory. It may turn your attention from books of mere idle fancy and fiction, to the Word of God, which to a regenerated soul, is found to be sweeter than honey, and more excellent than the choicest gold; but this will add to your happiness rather than diminish it. We would then affectionately and earnestly exhort and entreat you, to "remember now your Creator in the days of your youth." This will be your best security against all the dangers and temptations to which you are exposed; this will secure to you "the favor of God which is life, and his loving kindness which is better than life." Delay not your conversion; every day is lost time, which is not spent in the service of God. Besides, procrastination has proved ruinous to many. Eternity is at hand; the judgment day must be met, and how can we appear there, without piety? This is our only preparation and passport for heaven. Dear youth, be wise, and secure an inheritance among the saints in light. God invites you to be reconciled. Christ extends his arms of mercy to receive you. Angels are waiting to rejoice at your conversion, and to become your daily and nightly guardians. The doors of the church will be open to receive you. The ministers of the gospel, and all the companies of believers, will hail your entrance, and will welcome you to the precious ordinances of God's house. And, finally, remember that, "now is the accepted time and the day of salvation."

II. Seek Divine direction and aid, by incessant, fervent prayer. You need grace to help you every day. Your own wisdom is folly, your own strength weakness, and your own righteousness altogether insufficient. "It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." But if you lack wisdom, you are permitted to ask: and you have a gracious promise, that you shall receive.

Whatever we need will be granted, if we humbly and believingly ask for it. "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." "Be careful for nothing, but in every thing with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God."

Faith and prayer are our chief resources under all the various and heavy afflictions of this life. When all our refuges fail, God will hide his people who seek him in his secret pavilion, and shelter them under the shadow of his wings. Prayer is essential to the existence and growth of the spiritual life. It is the breath of the new man. By this means he obtains quick relief from innumerable evils; and draws down from heaven blessings of the richest and sweetest kind.

Possess your minds fully of the persuasion, that prayer is efficacious, when offered in faith and with importunity, to obtain the blessings which we need. God has made himself known as a hearer of prayer; yea, he has promised that we shall have, as far as may be for his glory and our good, whatever we ask. The most important events may be brought about by prayer. One righteous man, by fervent and effectual prayer, has been able to shut heaven and open it again. How often did Moses by his prayers avert the Divine wrath from the people of Israel! That man who has access to a throne of grace will never want any thing which is really needful. "God will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." "But he will be inquired of by the house of Israel for these things that he may do it for them." Banish, as most unreasonable, the idea that prayer is a dull or melancholy business. Such a sentiment must have been invented by Satan, for it never could have been suggested by reason or taught by experience.

Intercourse with the greatest and best of all Beings must be a source of exalted pleasure; and surely man can have no greater honor and privilege conferred upon him, than to be admitted to converse intimately and confidently with the God whom angels adore. The experience of every saint attests, that "it is good to draw near to God;" and that "one day in his courts is better than a thousand." I need not be afraid, therefore, to counsel the young to cultivate the spirit of prayer, and to be constant in its exercise. "Pray without ceasing." "Be instant in prayer."

It will not spoil your pleasures, but will open for you new sources of enjoyment, far more refined and satisfactory, than any which prayerless persons can possess. Prayer is the only method by which intercourse between heaven and earth can be kept open. Often, too, in the performance of this duty, a taste of heaven is brought down to earth; and the pious worshipper anticipates, in some degree, those joys which are ineffable and eternal. Prayer will, moreover, be your effectual guard against sin and the power of temptation:

"For Satan trembles, when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees."