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"done in his body according to that he hath done, "whether it be good or bad."1 "Therefore, remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity."

But, perhaps you will ask, how is this to be done?-Why, when the cause is removed, the effect will cease. The miseries of old age mostly arise from the sins and follies of youth. This exhortation therefore will be complied with, by observing that which follows," 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."

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In the further prosecution of the subject, we shall consider,

I. What is meant by the words "Childhood "and youth are vanity:

II. What are those things which cause and increase this vanity, and by which it is fixed and perpetuated:

III. The remedy-the only effectual remedy. It is mentioned in the last chapter of this book, verse 13: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for "this is the whole of man."

I. The season of childhood may be dated from the time that a child knows his right hand from his left (as the scripture expresses it, 2) till he comes to years of discretion: and youth may in clude the time from that period to adult age. We will, therefore, consider the subject with respect to this term of human life. Vanity, in the scrip

tural use of the word, often means wickedness; and always includes the idea of misery. There are three different lights in which the vanity of childhood and youth may be viewed.

1. As to its pursuits and pleasures. All the pursuits that young people generally engage in are frivolous and vain, compared with the studies and objects which occupy the attention of grown persons. "When I was a child," says the apostle, "I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but, when I became a man, "I put away childish things." Children's spirits are lively, their health is generally good, their limbs are active; and they promise themselves a continuance of these enjoyments. Their pursuits, however, give little heart-felt satisfaction at the time, and afterwards afford none on looking back upon them: they produce no preparation for the future part of life, none for death and eternity.

The games and pursuits of children are afterwards exchanged for others, which as may justly be denominated vanity." What fruit had ye then," asks the apostle, "in those things whereof ye are "ashamed? for the end of those things is death."2

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But, perhaps, some of you who are advanced in life will say, This is requiring too much. Young persons will be young persons still and you must not expect from them the gravity and seriousness of age, and a desire after more solid comforts.'This, however, is a very mistaken and dangerous way of talking, and only serves to confirm and strengthen those habits of vanity, which, if per

2 1 Cor. xiii. 11.

2 Rom. vi. 21.

sisted in, will hereafter cause bitter and fruitless lamentation. Even when grown up to maturity, worldly people are all engaged in what is as truly vanity as the sports of their children are. But one will reply,' I am getting money, while many around me are squandering it away: I am laying up a provision for my family, while they are bringing themselves and their relations into distress by their folly and imprudence.' And no doubt, my friends, good moral conduct, and prudent attention to our worldly concerns, are highly laudable in their proper place. But, if this is all, and we go no further, it is, I say again, in the light of God's word, as very a vanity as the toys of children; and all the contentions for power over states and kingdoms, for the sake of which so many millions have been expended, and so much blood spilt, are only the games which occupy children of a larger growth.' But,

2. Childhood and youth are wicked. Oh, parents, do not forget, that many of the things which you are apt to consider as little more than play and childish folly, are sins in the sight of God. Such, most certainly, is every kind and degree of falsehood and deception. Whatever leads to fraud and dishonesty, and all pilfering of even the smallest matters; evil tempers, passion, envy, stubbornness, and cruelty to brutes and insects. All these evils, if not nipped carefully in the bud, grow stronger and stronger; and all the licentiousness, gluttony, drunkenness, thieving, and murder, in the world, are only the same things brought forward to maturity. Much must certainly depend upon the degree of light and instruction that has

been received, and the different advantages of education: but, as soon as a child knows what is right, and will not do it, and commits what he knows to be evil, he is a sinner, and, as such, needs actual repentance, and faith in Jesus Christ. This, I think, occurs at a much earlier period than people in general are aware of: and let us remember, that all the evil things done by children are proofs of a depraved nature, which must be changed by the power of divine grace, before they can act otherwise: and, if this do not take place, the sinful propensities which are now immature, will ripen, and prepare them for wickedness in this life, misery in death, and unspeakable wretchness to all eternity. Many things, as has already been observed, may now be thought only harmless frolics and innocent amusements, though they are condemned by God's word: but know, my young friend, that "for all these things God "will bring thee into judgment;" and know thou, O parent, who art disposed to consider them as but trifles and jests, that they deserve the wrath of God; and that in acting thus, thou art lending thine aid in bringing it down upon the head of thine own offspring.

3. The continuance of health and spirits, and of the active use of the limbs, is uncertain and vanity. How many are cut off in the season of childhood and youth! How large a proportion of the human race are buried before they attain their twentieth year! aside, and rendered helpless

What numbers are laid objects of pity, by

disease, even in childhood! And, when this is not the case, if the utmost is enjoyed that can be

enjoyed, in that most gladsome period of human life, still all is wearing away. The period of gratification grows shorter and shorter, as days and weeks roll on; and soon, my young friends, very soon, if you have nothing better, you will find it vanity indeed!

II. What are the things which cause or increase this vanity, and which confirm and perpetuate it? -It arises from our being born in sin, and the ' children of wrath: but many things contribute to increase it. Children and young persons are apt to think that death must be far off, and to forget that they may soon die. Thus they expect to enjoy themselves, with all the advantages they at present possess to make them happy, for many years to come. In fact, they do not look forward with any realizing idea of a termination to their present comfort and satisfaction. Add to this, their forgetfulness of God, in whom alone true peace and solid satisfaction can be found in any period of life while those around them seem generally to do what they can to increase this great and pernicious evil. If, for a few minutes, they ever do think of becoming religious, they soon satisfy themselves with saying, 'It will be time enough for me to attend to this when I am old.' They think religion must necessarily make them moping and melancholy, and have no idea that in this life it can be the source of joyful hope and satisfaction. They look upon it as on some nauseous medicine, which they put away from them as long as possible. Alas! it must be confessed that they often see but too much in professors of