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We have here —

1. The successive stages of human life.

2. The primary obligation of human life. To "remember the Creator." This remembrance of the Creator should be intelligent, loving, practical, permanent.

3. The choicest period of human life. "The days of thy youth."

I. The days of youth are days of peculiar ILLUSION. They live in romance. Their theory of life bears but little resemblance to stern reality. Their blooming landscape is but a mirage creation of their own fancy. Look at their views —

1. As to life's happiness. In the home which they have painted for themselves there is no cloud, no storm, no blight. But how different they find the reality as they move on through the different stages to old age.

2. As to life's length. Most young people put their death a long way further off than it is.

3. As to life's improvability. Most youths feel that they ought to be religious, and they adjourn the work of spiritual culture till a time in the future, which they consider will be more convenient. But such a time never comes.

II. The days of youth are days of peculiar TEMPTATION.

1. Credulity. They are unsuspicious and confiding, and with minds but partially informed with the facts of existence, and untrained to the weighing of evidence, they are ready to accept almost any plausible proposition, especially when it is agreeable to their desires.

2. Carnality. In the first stages of human life animalism is the regnant power. All the pleasures are the pleasures of the sense.

3. Vanity. The conceit of youth is proverbial. They are vain of their appearance, their talents, if they have no wealth or ancestry.

4. Gregariousness. Strong is the tendency in young natures to follow and to blend with others.

III. The days of youth are days of peculiar VALUE. Whilst all the years and hours of man's short life are of priceless value the time of youth is pre-eminently precious; its hours are golden. It is pre-eminently valuable —

1. Because of its fleetness. "Youth," says John Foster, "is not like a new garment which we can keep fresh by wearing sparingly, we must wear it daily, and it wears fast away. It is a flower that soon withereth."

2. Because of its possibilities. The possibilities of flowers, fruit, affluent orchards, and waving fields of golden harvest are all shut up in the spring; so it is with youth, the greatness of manhood is in youth. He who wishes to be a great citizen, orator, saint, must begin in youth.

(Homilist.)

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KJV: 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;

WEB: Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them;"