Jeremiah 22:21 I spoke to you in your prosperity; but you said, I will not hear. This has been your manner from your youth… I. HABITS FORMED IN YOUTH GENERALLY CONTINUE IN FUTURE LIFE. This applies to those — 1. Whose Life is given to the luxury of pleasure. 2. Who pass the season of youth in gross vices. (1) Sabbath breaker. (2) Profaner. (3) Drunkard. 3. Equally relevant to vices of the mind. (1) Selfishness. (2) Pride. (3) Malignity. 4. So also as regards their attitude towards religion. (1) Those who pass their youth in a merely formal regard to the external duties of religion usually become formalists. (2) Those who practise guile and deceit become hypocritical. (3) Those who in youth slight the Gospel, in old age are seen to be unfeeling and hardened. (4) Those who are sceptical frequently become confirmed infidels. II. CUSTOM IN ANY COURSE GENERALLY ISSUES IN CONFIRMED HABITS. 1. The commencement of a course in life is often attended with a struggle and with difficulties. 2. But continuance in a course renders habits congenial and easy. III. SOLEMN CAUTIONS AND EXHORTATIONS. 1. Cautions. Guard against slighting — (1) Parental instruction. (2) The Gospel. (3) The Sabbath. (4) Avoid ungodly companions. 2. Exhortations. (1) Accustom yourself to consider your accountability to God. (2) Study the sacred Book, by which your future should be directed. (3) Decide early in favour of religion. (Anon.) Parallel Verses KJV: I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice. |
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