moment breathing an ardent prayer that God would defend and prosper the lad. The King of kings forsook not his youthful servant in time of danger. David having come within a proper distance, put his hand into his bag, took out a stone, and fastened it in his sling, and threw it with all his might at his foe. The Lord guided the hand and directed the stone, it entered the sturdy forehead of the giant, and he fell on the ground in a state of complete prostration. The stripling, encouraged by this, hastened and trod upon the stunned carcase of his foe, drew his huge sword out of its sheath, cut off his stupendous head therewith, and held it up to public gaze in token of victory. The Philistines, seeing their champion was killed, took to their heels, and fled with the utmost speed. The Israelites followed and effectually routed them, and David left the field of battle in victorious honour and safety. From this history we may learn, 1. The advantages of early piety. David begun to serve the Lord in early life, and "God made him to prosper." He had repeated tokens of the Divine favour before he fought with Goliath, and this encouraged him to trust in Jehovah on this occasion. His piety had grown to a holy acquaintance with God, and he conversed with him as a man with his friend. This gave a tone to his future life, and was the main spring of his prosperity and happiness. God, generally, fits for peculiar and extensive usefulness those who begin to love and serve him in early life. The blessings of early piety are incalculable; they stretch beyond the grave, and will parallel the existence of the soul. We may notice 2. The protection of God over those that serve him. David had been in imminent danger, before this occurrence, when on the solitary mountain watching the flock of his father, he had been delivered from the jaws of a lion, and the paws of a bear; and when contending with the giant his success did not depend on his staff, his bag, his stone, or his sling; nor on his beauty, strength, or youth; but on the Lord of Hosts, whose invisible arm got David the victory. "The Lord is as a wall of fire around them that fear him, to deliver them." How great, therefore, is the encourage We may ment to serve God in the days of our youth, before those days come which are full of evil, misery, and sorrow. notice 3. The fearful consequences of rebelling against God. Goliath was large, and strong, and skilful, and, without Divine interposition, would probably have prevailed against David; but he could not prevail against God. When the Divine Being strikes, neither helmet, nor shield, nor coat of mail, can prevent the blow from being fatal. No one that fights against God can prosper, and the sinner shall not go unpunished. The Lord will as certainly destroy all his obstinate enemies as he slew Goliath by the hand of David. Stand, then, my young friends, in awe, and sin not, lest iniquity should prove your ruin. IGNIS FATUUS. THE PRIVILEGES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND [The substance of a Lecture delivered to the "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society, connected with_the Wesleyan Association, Clitheroe, by one of its members.] THE period of the world, in which the providence of God has cast our lot, is one of great importance and interest. The world appears to be on the move, towards some great moral revolution. What are those struggles for liberty, those efforts for freedom, this dissatisfaction with present forms of corrupt government, and this restless desire for purity and truth? They are the indications of the mighty struggle between principle and prejudice, truth and error. These are the motions of a hidden life, seeking freedom from the spell of worldliness and selfishness, with which it has been so long bound, and by which progress has been so much impeded. We, indeed, live in important times, and are surrounded by important and deeply interesting circumstances. How numerous are our privileges! our responsibility how awful! our dangers how great. O that, as young men, we may feel the vast, the amazing importance of our position; that we may rightly act our part in the "fear of God," glorify our Creator, and benefit the world in which we live ! The privileges of young men of the present time are numerous and various. Never before were there such facilities for intellectual and moral culture, and never were religious privileges so numerous as at the present time. Formerly, the means of improvement were very limited; the few books which then existed, were principally confined to the great schools and colleges, and to the more opulent portion of society. It is stated that in the year 1274, the price of a small Bible, neatly written, was thirty pounds, which sum was equal to two hundred pounds at the present time. How wide the contrast in our day. Means of improvement are innumerable; books, full of the deep thinkings of learned men are abundant, and find their way to the humble cot of the labouring man, as well as to the mansion of the rich. Works on religion, mental philosophy, astronomy, geology, mathematics, geography, history, &c. are brought within the reach of all classes of society. Look at our various Institutions, Bible Societies, Temperance Societies, Peace Societies, Mechanics' Institutes, and our Young Men's Mutual Improvement Societies; what facilities do these afford for improvement to young men. There was a time, when the messengers of salvation were prohibited from proclaiming the glad tidings of mercy to perishing man. God's book--the Bible-was wickedly withheld from the people. But, thank God, the case is quite different now! God's messengers are going to and fro in the earth, and knowledge is increasing; the banners of the glorious Gospel are being unfurled, and wave in every breeze-through the length and breadth of our land the cross of Christ" is exhibited as the only hope of guilty -the pure streams of the water of life are continually flowing through this thirsty world, and we may drink and live for ever. Never before were young men so highly privileged; indeed, we live in the golden age. If then a young man remain ignorant, it is his own fault. 66 man We want to have a deeper conviction of the great privileges and superior advantages, with which we are favoured. This idea ought to lay hold of our inward self, and constrain us to use every effort to make those privileges subservient to our present and eternal welfare. It should also be borne in mind, that we are greatly indebted for the great privileges we enjoy, to the sufferings of good men in past ages. In maintaining "the truth," and the blessing of Christian liberty, they devoted their time, talents, and, in many instances, even life itself. Noble-minded men, they feared not the rack or the torture! accounting it an honour to suffer in the cause of truth. We reap the fruit, of their pious toil. We are indeed highly favoured, and hence arises our responsibility. This was taught by our Saviour when he gave utterance to those words-"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required, and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." What, am I responsible for present privileges? Am I answerable for the improvement or non-improvement of the means thus brought within my reach, and which are at my disposal? Will the Great Governor of the universe bring me to an account for these things, and reward me accordingly? If such will be the case, how necessary that we examine into our present character and conduct. For what purpose, we ask, have we existence? What! Is it to gratify the propensities of our evil nature? to satisfy our selfishness? No! But to glorify our Creator in the salvation of our own souls, and then in doing good to others. If we fail in this, we perform not the great business of life. We are not mere machines, but moral agents; having minds capable of receiving instruction, and of progressing in knowledge; minds, having a power to grasp the grand ideas of God, eternity, salvation; capable of knowing, loving, and obeying God, and of receiving the transforming influence of Divine truth. We also are so constituted, that we can diffuse abroad the good we thus receive. We have the power by a holy life to make earnest efforts to disseminate the influence of Divine truth. If we have received the truth" into our hearts, we ought to be its reflectors in this dark, polluted world. What opportunities we have of doing good in our families, in our workshops, and in the Sabbath-school. When God saves an individual, it is that he should in every possible way be a blessing. What then is our character, and what are we doing for the world's good? Be it remembered, we cannot neglect the grand business of life, or the privileges thus afforded us with impunity. Where much is given, much will be required. Great privileges conferred, bring great obligations and responsibility. We are in a great measure responsible for the character of future generations. The influence of our words and actions terminates not with ourselves, but affects others; and thus their influence will be transmitted from individual to individual from one generation to another, widening and augmenting as it moves along, till it shall be consummated in eternity. It devolves upon us to accelerate the progress of truth and the world. And if we fail, the woe pronounced upon the wicked and slothful servant will be ours. How solemn are these considerations, and what important lessons they suggest to our minds ! Let us, as young men, see to it that our characters bear the impression of purity and love, of earnestness and active benevolence. May we be so impressed with the greatness of our privileges, and the awfulness of our responsibility, that we may be made holier, wiser, and happier; and diffuse abroad, for the benefit of our fellow-men, the good we thus receive. We ought carefully to guard against the various temptations and snares which beset our path, and surround us on every side. These often conceal their real character. Satan assumes a false garb, and transforms himself into an angel of light, that he may the more easily deceive and ruin the ignorant and unwary. I may mention as special sources of danger, worldly amusements; such as the stage, the ball-room, games of chance, the billiard-table, and the singing saloon. I would not forget, particularly, to specify railway cheap trips on the Sabbath-day. Ask solemnly, as in the presence of God, Do these things tend to the glory of God. What good has ever come from them? On the contrary, have they not been attended with evil, and that continually? Their history is |