Chapter XIX · The Upper Room — J. C. Ryle
— Tit. 2:6
WHEN St. Paul wrote his Epistle to Titus about his duty as a minister, he mentioned young men as a class requiring peculiar attention. After speaking of aged men and aged women, and young women, he adds this pithy advice, “Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded” (Tit. 2:6). I am going to follow the Apostle’s advice. I propose to offer a few words of friendly exhortation to young men.
I am growing old myself, but there are few things I remember so well as the days of my youth. I have a most distinct recollection of the joys and the sorrows, the hopes and the fears, the temptations and the difficulties, the mistaken judgments and the misplaced affections, the errors and the aspirations, which surround and accompany a young man’s life. If I can only say something to keep some young man in the right way, and preserve him from faults and sins, which may mar his prospects both for time and eternity, I shall be very thankful.
There are four things which I propose to do:—
I. I will mention some general reasons why young men need exhorting.
II. I will notice some special dangers against which young men need to be warned.
III. I will give some general counsels which I entreat young men to receive.
IV. I will set down some special rules of conduct which I strongly advise young men to follow.
On each of these four points I have something to say, and I pray God that what I say may do good to some soul.
I. Reasons for exhorting Young Men.
- In the first place, What are the general reasons why young men need peculiar exhortation? I will mention several of them in order.
(1) For one thing, there is the painful fact that there are few young men anywhere who seem to have any religion. I speak without respect of persons; I say it of all. High or low, rich or poor, gentle or simple, learned or unlearned, in town or in country,—it makes no matter. I tremble to observe how few young men are led by the Spirit,—how few are in that narrow way which leads to life,—how few are setting their affections upon things above,—how few are taking up the cross, and following Christ. I say it with all sorrow, but I believe, as in God’s sight, I am saying nothing more than the truth.
Young men, you form a large and most important class in the population of this country; but where, and in what condition, are your immortal souls? Alas, whatever way we turn for an answer, the report will be one and the same!
Let us ask any faithful minister of the gospel, and mark what he will tell us. How many unmarried young people can he reckon up who come to the Lord’s Supper? Who are the most backward about means of grace,—the most irregular about Sunday services,—the most difficult to draw to weekly lectures and prayer meetings,—the most inattentive under preaching at all times? Which part of his congregation fills him with most anxiety? Who are the Reubens for whom he has the deepest “searchings of heart”! Who in his flock are the hardest to manage,—who require the most frequent warnings and rebukes,—who occasion him the greatest uneasiness and sorrow,—who keep him most constantly in fear for their souls, and seem most hopeless? Depend on it, his answer will always be, “The Young Men.”
Let us ask the parents in any parish throughout England, and see what they will generally say. Who in their families give them most pain and trouble? Who need the most watchfulness, and most often vex and disappoint them? Who are the first to be led away from what is right, and the last to remember cautions and good advice? Who are the most difficult to keep in order and bounds? Who most frequently break out into open sin, disgrace the name they bear, make their friends unhappy, embitter the old age of their relations, and bring down grey hairs with sorrow to the grave? Depend on it, the answer will generally be, “The Young Men.”
Let us ask the magistrates and officers of justice, and mark what they will reply. Who go to public-houses and beer-shops most? Who are the greatest Sabbath-breakers? Who make up riotous mobs and seditious meetings? Who are oftenest taken up for drunkenness, breaches of the peace, fighting, poaching, stealing, assaults, and the like? Who fill the gaols, and penitentiaries, and convict ships? Who are the class which requires the most incessant watching and looking after? Depend on it, they will at once point to the same quarter,—they will say, ” The Young Men.”
Let us turn to the upper classes, and mark the report we shall get from them. In one family the sons are always wasting time, health, and money, in the selfish pursuit of pleasure. In another, the sons will follow no profession, and fritter away the most precious years of their life in doing nothing. In another, they take up a profession as a mere form, but pay no attention to its duties. In another, they are always forming wrong connections, gambling, getting into debt, associating with bad companions, keeping their friends in a constant fever of anxiety. Alas, rank, and title, and wealth, and education, do not prevent these things! Anxious fathers, and heart-broken mothers, and sorrowing sisters, could tell sad tales about them, if the truth were known. Many a family, with everything this world can give, numbers among its connections some name that is never named,—or only named with regret and shame,—some son, some brother, some cousin, some nephew,—who will have his own way, and is a grief to all who know him.