The Young Man Leaving Home
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BY R. ROTHMAN.
As the youth first realizes his early manhood he enters a most critical period of life. The loving restraints of home begin to feel irksome and he longs to be free. Happy will be the end if he listen to the voice of God and resolve to choice wisdom’s ways. For the Word says: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor siteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”— Psalms 1: 1 to 3.
It is too true that many of the promising boys do not pass this period without doing serious injury to themselves and often dashing to pieces the bright hopes of their fathers and causing the cheerful smiles of mothers to give place to tears and mourning. The young man, has reached a period in his life when the Devil would make the counsel of the young man’s father seem foolishness; and try to get him to listen to the advice of the ungodly youth who have learned some of the secrets of the mystery of iniquity. So sure as God’s Word comes true, that sure will the young man live to regret the day he ceased to obey the better impulses of his nature, putting aside the advice of those who truly loved him. “For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”— Psalms 1: 6. Many a wandering boy is reaping the awful harvest of sin uncared for in the large cities, while
“The tones in every household voice
Are grown more sad and deep,
And the sweet word brother, makes a wish
To turn aside and weep.”
One principal cause of the fall of many youth is, they do not admire the right. Instead of esteeming true manhood, which consists in fulfilling the design of God in creating man, they are apt to admire some “smart” young man, who may have a winning way but whose heart is very black. Such ones are found in every community. Often they have spent some time in large cities; long enough to learn some low vices, and to dress “swell.” Daniel Wise has well said that “to seduce the innocent into a depth of iniquity as deep as that into which they have fallen, is the delight of bad men. Some do this for what they may gain of their unhappy dupe; others for fiendish pleasure it affords a depraved heart to see itself equaled in wickedness by kindred minds.” No doubt Solomon had in mind the seducers of innocent youth when he penned these lines, “A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.”— Proverbs 6: 12 to 15. Dear young reader, if you have learned to love such as glory in their shame, beware. You are now to decide the destiny of your life. “The fact that you fail to discern the full enormity of their practices, is the sign that you are marked for destruction. There is a certain bird which is said to prepare its prey for its talons by fluttering over its head and blinding its eyes with the sand with which it previously covers itself. The brilliant devices of gay sinners, like sand, blinding your eyes to the consequences of sin, fit you to be their prey.”
Most of the men whom the world loves to honor appreciated their homes, and admired the right. Above all, our Savior’s example should be followed. He was subject to his parents. Make the better choice, young friend, and receive the blessing. For “blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth forever. “— Psalms 112: 1 to 3. My son, give me thine heart.” Amen.
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