A Word to Lads

 •  5 min. read  •  grade level: 8
 
AN incident, that occurred the other day, has worked itself into a parable in my mind, and I want to tell it, and the lesson I drew from it, to any lads who read this.
The sun shone brightly in the blue sky on a clear frosty day in autumn; the birds were singing sweetly, although with a sad note in their summer song, and the roads were hard, dry, and clean—a pleasant day for our drive to the market town, where we had several little commissions to execute.
By the way we met Robert, one of the youths of my Bible class, driving a black cow along the road. The cow walked sedately forwards, switching her tail from side to side; Robert followed, carelessly happy, whistling a cheery tune. We exchanged greetings smilingly, as we passed on our different ways.
The crimson sun was sinking low behind the hedge, and a cold breeze made us draw our wraps about us, as we drove homewards, through lanes that turned this way and that, leading us back by a longer, though pleasanter way, than the high road by which we had come. Presently we were surprised to see, tearing towards us at full gallop, the black cow; Robert far behind, breathless and hatless, vainly trying to overtake the animal and to turn her course. He slackened speed as he passed, and I could not resist calling out to him, “Hallo, Robert, are you taking the cow, or is the cow taking you?”
But poor Robert was hot, tired, and out of patience, and could hardly smile at my remark, as he set off running again as hard as he could. And so he and the cow both disappeared round a corner of the lane, and we saw no more of them.
Well, as I said, I kept thinking of this little incident, until it spoke to me of more serious matters. I thought how many a lad starts in his bright, sunny youth (like Robert with his cow on this sunny day), beginning something that he knows to be wrong, or at the least doubtful. The first pipe is smoked, the first glass taken at the public-house, the first oath uttered, the first theater attended, the first ungodly companionship entered upon. You think to yourself, “Ah! but I have full control over myself; the first may be the last, if I choose; I shall break this off by-and-by, and will not allow it to get a hold of me, as it has done of poor So-and-so, who has wrecked his life with self-indulgence.”
Thus you quiet the qualms of conscience, and you think you are driving the cow, and may whistle as you go along! However, wait awhile. Years go by; life becomes a more serious matter with you; you find that what you began as amusement is now a confirmed habit. But the pipe is smoked in moody silence; the glass is drunk sullenly at the public-house; the foolish song of the drunkard can no longer bring a smile to your lips, unless, like him, you have drunk so deeply as to forget all that should make you grave; the pleasure of these things is over, and you begin to think the time has come to break off with foolish companions and idle habits.
And now you find that you have no control over what you thought you held well in hand; these things have become your master, and you their unwilling slave—the black cow has run away with you!
Do not think I have overdrawn the picture. At this very moment I know an intellectual, talented man, in the prime of life, who is weeping, groaning, and agonizing at times, in vain efforts to break the fetters that drink has thrown around him, and by which he knows the devil is dragging him down to hell. Why should you forge for yourself the first links of such a chain? “At the last” —ah! that bitter word “at the last!” — “it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” (Prov. 23:3232At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. (Proverbs 23:32)).
I know also another—a young Christian man, who has over and over again, sought to break with his pipe. He has discovered that he has let it become his master, and that smoke he must, when the appetite for it, which he has so long indulged, awakens. He deplores the loss of time, of money—grieves that he should mar his testimony for Christ, by thus yielding to a worldly habit—and yet, again and again, the pipe asserts its authority over him, and he falls before it!
I do not now take up the point that there is deliverance in Christ from all and every sin—blessedly true for the one who has sought Him for a Saviour—what I press on you, dear lads, this day, is your own solemn responsibility as to yielding your members in any degree as “servants to uncleanness and to iniquity” (Rom. 6:1919I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. (Romans 6:19)), because “God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Gal. 6:77Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)). I earnestly implore you to consider what the future must be of the present you are now living in. I would remind you that “to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servant ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.” (Rom. 6:1616Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:16)).
With life opening fair before you, let me entreat most cheering word you to weigh fully the words of the wise king to young men: “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.”
D. & A. C.