On Pleasures. Nothing in general so powerfully draws the young as pleasure. Whatever is likely to afford it, becomes an object of desire. The youthful imagination gilds all things with fair colours, and the heart dances at the prospect of delight. I should be sorry to lessen your happiness, but I would advise you to distinguish between pleasures that are forbidden, and such as are lawful; pleasures that are gross or hurtful, and such as are pure and exalted; pleasures that are fading and short lived, and those which are solid and lasting. 1. Flee forbidden, and follow lawful pleasures. Suppose a kind affectionate parent should lead you into a garden, and say, these shady walks, these crystal streams, these fragrant flowers and rich fruits, are all for you. Here is every thing suitable and proper to afford pleasure. But I charge you not to climb this tree, or break through that fence into yonder ground, or touch that beehive though stored with honey. Would it not be extremely wrong to disobey such express commands? Now consider that God the Father of your spirit, and the fountain of all goodness, has liberally opened to you ten thousand springs of joy; but there are some pleasures which he has forbidden. Do you ask, and why has he forbidden them? not to make you miserable, but rather to secure your happiness. Though unlawful delights should seem ever eo attractive, you must neither taste nor touch them. The fruit of the forbidden tree, appeared pleasant to the eyes of Eve, but the taste of it brought death into the world and all our woe. By time, wisdom, and experience, you will be convinced, that God has denied you only those things which you would have refused of your own accord, if all the consequences could have been clearly foreseen. 2. Flee gross and hurtful pleasures; and follow such as are pure and exalted. The joys of sense are common to men and brutes. To place your chief happiness in them, is to descend to a level with the inferior creatures. Not that the joys of sense, within moderate limits, are either unlawful or unsuitable. The famous Anacharsis used to say, the vine bears three kinds of fruit; the first, pleasure; the second, intoxication; the third, remorse. And it is equally true, that all the delights of sense immoderetely pursued, turn to bitterness and woe. 1 Pleasures are few, and fewer we enjoy ; But the pleasures of knowledge and piety are pure and refined, and suited to the capacities and desires of an immortal soul. Here is no danger of excess, but the more you enjoy, the higher you will rise in dignity and happiness. 3. Spend not your time in pursuit of pleasures that are fading and short-lived; but earnestly seek those which are solid and lasting. Would it not be deemed a great folly, for a person to give up a good estate for a handful of flowers? And is it not worse than madness, to forfeit an eternal inheritance for a few fading, uncertain delights on earth? All that wealth and power can procure, will not buy one hour's pure and solid joy. Xerxes the greatest king in the world, was so wearied, and worn out with all his luxuries and amusements, that he offered a reward to any one who could invent a new pleasure; yet still he remained dissatisfied. Nor need we be surprised. If that proud monarch had doubled his diligence and could have increased his possessions an hundred fold, his disappointment must have been still more agravated. The reason is evident. It is absolutely impossible that those things which perish in the using, should satisfy the soul that never dies. The softest melodies for the ear, the richest splendours for the eye the rarest dainties for the taste, with all the multiplied productions of nature and refinements of heart, leave a void in the bosom unfilled. Could all the sweets of this world be distilled into one cup, it would not long retain its relish, but the soul would turn away with disgust, and languish for something better. Do you reply, Is there then no solid enduring pleasure? Is every fountain poisoned, every tree cursed? Can we find nothing but the waters of Marah and the grapes of Sodom? Is the roll of Ezekial full of mourning, lamentation, and woe, the proper inscription on all our possessions? Far be it from me to give a false or gloomy picture. The christian is again and again commanded to rejoice in the Lord. It is the divine will that he should go from strength to strength, and rise from one heighth of glory to another, until he gain the summit of felicity. His delights ripen rather than decay by the progress of time. Death, which will fatally blast the worldling's joys, shall perfect the good man's bliss. While nature sinks, he can look up to God and say, Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.-Psa. xvi. 11. FINIS. BOOKS Published by W. BAYNES, 54, Paternoster-Row, LONDON, Dr. Adam Clarke's new improved and enlarged edition, being the 3d, of Fleury's Manners, Customs, &c. of the Ancient Israelites, with a Life of Fleury, and fine portrait, beautifully printed on fine wove paper, 8vo 8s boards, and elegantly bound and gilt, 10s 6d. Bishop Horne recommends the above to be put into the hands of every young person, being a concise, pleasing, and just account of the Manners, Customs, &c. of the Israelites. See the high character of it, in the Eclectic Review for October. Rev. John Brown's Select Remains, containing Memoirs of his Life, Letters to his Friends, Religious Tracts, Advices to his Children, Dying Sayings and Dying Advices to his Congregation, 4th edition, enlarged by his Sons, finely printed, 12mo 3s 6d. The Female Pilgrim; or the Travels of Hephzibah, by John Mitchell,. under the Similitude of a Dream; the whole calculated equally for Instruction and Entertainment; illustrated with 10 copper plates. The Sd edition, 8v 7s. boards, or bound 8s; ditto elegantly bound, as presents to young ladies and others, 9s 6d. Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and Holy War, neat pocket edition, 2 vols, 5s boards; or calf, gilt, 8s. |