THE EVANGELIST.

NEW SERIES.

ORIGINAL DISCOURSES AT FULL LENGTH.

XLIII.

SOBER-MINDEDNESS INCULCATED UPON YOUTH.* BY THE REV. J. FOSTER, A. M.

YOUNG MEN LIKEWISE EXHORT TO BE SOBER-MINDED."

TITUS, ii. 6.

IT is plain that the exhortation was expressly meant for young men, the apostle having already, in the previous verses, addressed himself to young Christian females.

But when we take the precept in the more general sense which the word in our text, sober-minded, allows, it may be presumed that young persons of the other sex will consider themselves as quite within the scope of such counsel. We would, therefore, address the exhortation to young persons generally.

But" sober-minded!"-Methinks this, at the first sound, is likely to be one of the least pleasing words in the whole language to many young persons. To them it will seem as though such a word could only come from old time-worn people, whose feelings are dried up into a kind of cold stiffened prudence, which they wish to have reputed as wisdom; persons who, having suffered the extinction of all vivacity in themselves, envy the young for possessing what

* This discourse has been forwarded, not by the author, who is responsible for none of the inaccuracies or deficiencies that may be observed in it; the mere notes only having been preserved. It is inserted on account of the importance of the topic and sentiments at this season of the year.