THE SKELETON. Found in the Skeleton-case at the Royal Academy, supposed to have been written and deposited there by one of the students. BEHOLD this ruin!-first the skull This narrow cell was life's retreat This space was thought's mysterious seat. Beneath this mould'ring canopy, When stars, and suns, have lost their light. Here, in this silent cavern hung, The ready, swift, and tuneful tongue; And where it could not praise, was chain'd— Yet gentle concord never broke : That tuneful tongue shall plead for thee, When death unveils eternity. Say, did these fingers delve the mine, Or with its envied rubies shine. THE CLAIMS OF RELIGION UPON THE YOUNG. Avails it, whether bare or shod, CLAIMS OF RELIGION ON THE YOUNG. From Rev. W. II. Elliott's " Vital Christianity." YOUTH is an interesting and important period of human life. It is the best season for education, and every kind of improvement. Instruction must be given; knowledge acquired; and piety inculcated, during this season; whilst the memory is vigorous, the conscience tender, the mind open to conviction, and free from anxious care; before the seeds of iniquity have scarcely had time to grow, and put forth the baneful fruits, the principles of the gospel should be instilled into the mind. Conversion, at any period of life, is an event in our moral history of the utmost importance, for without it the soul is undone. But religion has especial claims upon the young. It looks to such with a benign aspect, and holds out to them the most powerful inducements to accept its rich blessings. The bloom of youth is the best season to surrender the heart to Christ, and to consecrate ourselves to His service. If you are young, these remarks are particularly addressed to you. While the dew of youth is yet upon your brow, be decided for God. Listen to the alluring accents of mercy sounding from the Divine Word; "I love them that love me, and they that seek me early shall find me." "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." If this has been done by you, you are blessed for time and eternity; and while you enjoy the most exquisite spiritual pleasures, you have especial opportunities for usefulness. But perhaps your decision for Christ is regarded as a subject for future consideration. Mistaken views of the nature of religion, may induce you to defer its claims until you arrive at riper years. You look upon it as adapted to sickness and the infirmities of age, but not to youthful vigour; and therefore you reject it. This is dangerous procrastination, and presumptuous conduct. Your stay in the world is short, and the season given you for religious purposes once gone, can never be recalled. If you think it too soon to repent of sin, to abandon your worldly pleasures, and serve God-if you think you are too young to be holy, happy, and useful, remember that you are not too young to die, and to reap the punishment denounced upon the children of disobedience. While you linger on the plains of Sodom, the fire of Heaven may be preparing to destroy you; and while you are "halting between two opinions," and looking forward to distant years of earthly enjoyment, you may be snatched away by death, amid your thoughtlessness and folly; or should your life be spared to mature age, your disaffection to Christ, will, in all probability, be greatly increased by long continuance in sin, and the Divine patience exhausted. Life may be compared to a vessel of water, from which we are constantly drawing, and soon the whole will be expended. You may raise numerous objections against immediate repentance; but to all these, the gospel replies, "Now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation." Talk not then of a death-bed repentance, for accident, which may suddenly remove you to an eternal state, or insensibility, arising from disease, may render this impossible; and for other reasons it may then be too late. Your repentance at such a period may not then be such as the gospel requires, and so be utterly unvailing. It may arise from a fear of THE CLAIMS OF RELIGION UPON THE YOUNG. punishment, and not from godly sorrow for sin. No consideration, therefore, should deter you from seeking the Saviour whilst you are young; all other things are contemptible and worthless, compared with the salvation of your immortal soul. This is "the one thing needful." "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." This demands your immediate attention, and nothing can justify your neglect of this important duty. If you presented a friend with a faded and shrivelled flower, in all probability he would cast it away, as it would contain no sweetness; but were you to give him a blooming and fragant rose, he would press it to his bosom, and be pleased with the offering. Thus God loves to have the flower of our youth. The Scriptures present us with numerous examples of early piety. Joseph, Samuel, King Josiah, David, Daniel, Timothy, and others, feared and served God, from their youth. The christian church now contains a noble band of young disciples, who, in their different spheres, are labouring to promote the Divine glory. Be persuaded then, to yield obedience to the Saviour without delay. It is time to awake out of sleep. Listen not to the false insinuations of the tempter; be deterred not by the persuasions or the ridicule of the wicked; slight not the faithful admonitions of conscience; but go to the cross of Jesus now, pray for the teachings of his Spirit now, and surrender yourself to him at once in a covenant not to be broken. You may now tremble, like Felix of old, but if this does not lead you to embrace the gospel, your convictions may issue in hardness of heart, and your convenient season for religion, like his, may never arrive. If the calls of mercy are disregarded, the insulted Saviour may permit you to pursue your sinful course undisturbed, until you have filled up the measure of your iniquity, "Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone." Without limiting the Holy One of Israel, or of throwing any impediment in the way of an aged sinner's return to God, it is a lamentable fact, that the conversion of such is of rare occurrence. Many who have been the subjects of deep religious impressions in early life-who have wept under gospel sermons, and formed the most determined resolutions to devote themselves to God, have, in after life, become the most abandoned characters. They have trifled with mercy, trifled with sin, and trifled with their souls, until their consciences have become seared. They have scoffed at religion, and lived and died under the curse of God. The writer has known such affecting instances, and these are not uncommon. Everything in your condition and circumstances; every thing in christianity shows the necessity of early piety. First, it will be the best preservative from sin and misery. An irreligious youth, resembles a house without a roof, where there is nothing to defend it from the wind and the storm-or a vessel at sea, which has no guide to direct her course. Governed by corrupt passions, more than by reason, he is the sport of temptation, and is constantly caught in the fowler's snare. But piety is a safeguard to the young. It casts its broad shield of protection around them, and promises to preserve them from the evil designs of their adversaries. Its principles, which are opposed to sin, will deter them from its commission. Such a youth may be situated, like Joseph in Egypt, among the vicious and profane, and be compelled to hear christianity derided, but the fear of God ruling within him, will increase his abhorrence of evil, render him superior to the influence of corrupt example, and enable him to pass through the fire without receiving hurt. As he rises up into life, he is saved from the sins by which others are overcome, and from the guilt and punishment by which they are followed. Early piety will prepare you for future trials. No pleasing prospects, no local circumstances, can exempt you from affliction, and he is not prepared to bear |