THE EVANGELIST. NEW SERIES. ORIGINAL DISCOURSES AT FULL LENGTH. XLIII. SOBER-MINDEDNESS INCULCATED UPON YOUTH.* "YOUNG MEN LIKEWISE EXHORT TO BE SOBER-MINDED." It is plain that the exhortation was expressly meant for young men, the apostle having already, in the previous verses, addressed himself to young Christian females. But when we take the precept in the more general sense which the word in our text, sober-minded, allows, it may be presumed that young persons of the other sex will consider themselves as quite within the scope of such counsel. We would, therefore, address the exhortation to young persons generally. But "sober-minded!"—Methinks this, at the first sound, is likely to be one of the least pleasing words in the whole language to many young persons. To them it will seem as though such a word could only come from old time-worn people, whose feelings are dried up into a kind of cold stiffened prudence, which they wish to have reputed as wisdom; persons who, having suffered the extinction of all vivacity in themselves, envy the young for possessing what *This discourse has been forwarded, not by the author, who is responsible for none of the inaccuracies or deficiencies that may be observed in it; the mere notes only having been preserved. It is inserted on account of the importance of the topic and sentiments at this season of the year. they have lost. The word may have suggested ideas of something heavy, spiritless, formal, and calculating; almost mechanical in all pursuits and interests-the image of a person narrow in his notions, plodding in his operations, placed wholly out of sympathy with everything partaking of ardour, sensibility, adventure, or enthusiasm; and at the same time taking to himself the credit of great mental energy for all this. Are such the ideas that the word "sober-minded" has conveyed to any of the young persons present? What, then, do you think of him who wrote this injunction,—viz., St. Paul? Was he such a sample of human character? Where is genius, where is variety, strength of mind, buoyancy, activity, enterprise, if not combined in him? We may then be perfectly sure that St. Paul's "sober-minded" young men were not to be examples of sapient formalityof a creeping prudence—of extinguished passion of a cold aversion to animated interests; in short, not examples of the negation of anything that is really graceful and excellent in youth. We will therefore presume that a few admonitory observations on such a topic will not be unacceptable to young persons. We should attempt to shew what is the right notion of "sober-mindedness;" then apply its principles or rules to some of the circumstances of youth; and lastly, suggest a few considerations for the enforcement of that application. I. What is it that may properly be called sober-mindedness? This is to ask, in other words, what it is that we are all charging the want of upon our fellow-creatures, while we are all, on all hands, censuring, reproaching, or ridiculing them for folly, absurdity, extravagance; for running into all extremes; for being the sport of fancies, tempers, and passions. Is there any injustice in these invectives which almost every one is uttering every day? And what is all this the contrary to? Sober-mindedness. But what is the principal cause of the difference? What is it that would reduce men from all this to sober-mindedness? Plainly, the effectual freedom of sound reason. That, then, is the general description of sober-mindedness-that there be in habitual exercise a just judgment of things—and that this judgment be in real effective authority. But a little more particularly. There cannot be the required state of mind, unless there be some great master |