Concluding Applications on Sober-Mindedness (2)

To recommend this sober-mindedness to all of you that are young, this seriousness, sedateness of spirit, and aptness to consider; will you be convinced of what great advantage it will be to you every way?

1. Thus you will escape the vanity that childhood and youth is subject to, and rescue those precious years from it. It will keep them from running waste, as commonly they do, like water spilt upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up again, and will do much towards the filling up of the empty spaces, even of those years.

When Solomon had observed, that childhood and youth is vanity, he immediately adds for the cure of that vanity, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth”; that is, in one word, be serious. By using yourselves to consideration, you will come to be aware of the snares your spiritual enemies lay for you, of the snake under the green grass, and will not be imposed upon so easily as many are by the wiles of Satan. By habituating yourselves to self-denial and mortification of the flesh, and a holy contempt of this world, you will wrest the most dangerous weapons out of the hand of the strong man armed, and will take from him that part of his armour in which he most trusted, for it is by the world and the flesh that he mostly fights against us. This sober-mindedness will put upon you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and so to resist the devil, as that he may flee from you. This sober-mindedness will prevent many a temptation which a vain mind invites and courts, and throws men into the way of; and will shut and lock the door against the tempter, who, when he finds it so, will give it up; and his agents will be apt to do so too, concluding it is vain to tempt the sober mind. They will do as Naomi, who, when she saw that Ruth was steadfastly minded, left off speaking to her.

2. Thus you will recommend yourselves to the favor of God, and of all wise and good men; you will obtain that good name which is better than precious ointment, and more fragrant— a name for good things with God and good people. God will love those that love Him, and seek Him early; and will never forget this kindness of your youth for serious godliness. If you thus give Him the first of your first-fruits, it will be an acceptable offering to Him. The beloved disciple was the youngest. And it is said of that young man, who asked that serious question, and asked it soberly, “Good master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” that “Jesus, beholding him, loved him” (Mark 10:17, 21). As He was likewise well-pleased with another, who answered discreetly, like one that had a sober-mind, Matt. 12:34. And that humility and quietness of spirit, which is one branch of this sober mind, is an ornament, which wherever it is found, especially in young people, is in the sight of God of great price; and that is valuable indeed which He values, and by it we ought to value ourselves.

Nor is it an argument to be despised by you, that all sober people who know you will love you, and will have no greater joy than to see you live soberly; but it is an argument the rather to be insisted upon by us, because young people are commonly very much influenced by reputation, and have an eye to that more than any thing in the government of themselves, and the choice of their way. Now it is certain, reputation is on religion’s side, and if the matter be rightly understood, will help to turn the scale for sober-mindedness. It is true, there are some, there are many, to whom a young man will recommend himself by being loose and extravagant, and talking at random against that which is serious; but what kind of people are they? Are they not the fools in Israel? But do not all discreet and considerate people esteem a young man that is sober, and show him respect, and converse with him, and put a confidence in him? It is the character of a citizen of Zion, that in his eyes a vile person is contemned; though he set up for a wit or a beau, yet if he be loose and profane, he despiseth him as a fool, and a flash; but he honors them that fear the Lord, and live conscientiously. Now, to which of these would you recommend yourselves? Whose opinion would you covet to stand right in, to stand high in? Would you not choose to have credit with men of virtue and probity, and that are themselves in reputation for wisdom and honor, and to be laid in their bosoms, rather than to be hugged, and caressed, and cried up by those that, being slaves to their pleasures, can never be masters of true reason? Especially considering, that those young people who are truly sober, serious, and conscientious, provided they take care to avoid affectation and superciliousness, will be loved and respected even by those that are themselves loose and vain; and will be manifested in their consciences one time or other, that they are the most valuable young men. And I think it is worth considering and would bear a debate, whether ordinarily sober, serious people do not love their friends and companions better than vain, loose people do theirs, and are not more ready to do them true service?

Rev. Matthew Henry (1662-1714) pastored a Presbyterian congregation at Chester, England, for twenty-five years. He is best known and loved for his Bible commentary (1708-10). This series of articles is taken from his The Young Christian.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen