Morning Star

From the New York Evangelist

YOUNG CHRISTIANS.

Mr. Editor—I have noticed with pleasure, frequent accounts of revivals of religion during the last winter and spring, and I wish to address a few remarks, through your paper, to those who are just entering their Christian course.

No period of the Christian's life is so important as the commencement.— It is to the remainder what youth is to manhood and old age—what the present life is to that which is to come. If you begin rightly, you may glorify God, adorn your profession, be useful to society, and enjoy the comforts of religion and the presence of God in this world. If you begin wrong, you will be likely to dishonor God and religion, be useless or worse than useless, and fail of the consolations of piety.—

Fixed principles of action, strong faith, clear views of doctrine and duty, correct habits, a lively hope, fervent charity, and a conscience void of offence, are necessary to happiness and usefulness as a Christian.

From wrong habits of thought and action, formed in the beginning of religious life, many are gloomy and sad all their days. Perpetually questioning the reality of their piety, they are like a man in the water, who sinks, then rises to the surface, catches a strangling breath, then sinks again, suffering all the fears and many of the pains of drowning, and yet lives. So they vacillate between hope and despair, enjoying neither the world nor God. Their faith is weak; their perceptions of truth dim, shadowy and imperfect; their hope feeble, so as often to be relinquished.

Usefulness is intimately connected with the enjoyment of religion. The unhappiness of Christians, or their eager pursuit of worldly joy, presents religion in a very unlovely attitude. Men learn to think of it. as the sick man thinks of his medicine, a nauseous potion which they must take or die, and, hence put it off to the last hour, when it is too late. Did professors uniformly enjoy religion, they would indeed honor God, and win souls to Christ.

Habits of usefulness will be formed, if ever, in the commencement of your Christian life. Whatever excuse may be made for deferring to engage in active Christian duties they will constantly multiply as you advance, and every obstacle will gain ten-fold power. The young Christian cannot have too clear a conception of his own weakness; he cannot be too humble. But it is pride, and not humility, which makes men shrink from duty.

That diffidence which is sometimes commended. is but a compound of pride and infirmity; an infirmity however which is not confessed. If it be not overcome in the beginning, it will always be a snare. Every feeling which impels to duty will be weakened by resistance, and to all will be added the force of habit. Very few, who do not engage in their Master's service from the beginning, are ever very useful.

It may be thought that the inexperienced Christian can do but little for the advancement of religion; but how is he to acquire experience but in active service? If he wait. life will pass uselessly away, and no experience will be gained. True, each has his appropriate sphere, and within that the young professor may do much for Christ. They have a more intimate acquaintance with the unconverted, and more ready access to them, than those who have been longer in the church. The change in their character is more marked, because more recent: and their testimony to the reality and nature of the new birth is invaluable; and if they are really humble and holy, their influence will be great in winning others to seek the Lord.—There is also a fervor, and freshness, and simplicity in first love, which commends religion to all. If the convert is also a youth, he is more free from care than he can be at any other period. They have also a buoyancy of spirit, a courage, and cheerful ness of hope, which those have not who have been oftener disappointed. They need the caution and experience of age sometimes; but that is always at hand, and they will avail themselves of it, if humility be not wanting. "I tell you, brother,'" said the lamented "Father Peterson,'" if you ever do any good you will do it while young. I am almost worn out." And yet he died at the age of 56. It may be remarked that a very large part of those who are distinguished in the world's history, died young.

But by a wrong course you will not only fail to be useful, but will do injury. He (said our Savior) that is not for me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." The man who makes a profession of religion, yet neglects Christian duty and lives a worldly life, though he may perform many public and external duties, will make men think that religion consists in a profession, and a few solemn and seemly ceremonies, while the heart is given to the world. His example will quiet the careless and the unbelieving in neglect of religion, to their destruction.

H. C. T.