Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/133

 heart was  the  abode  of  celestial  peace;  you! understanding a  clear,  bright  flame. Your will was  open  to  receive  all  that  is  good;  the frank expression  of  your  eyes  reflected  the purity of  your  soul. Your ear  had  not  as yet  been  polluted  by  the  voice  of  the  tempter; your lips  had  not  tasted  the  poisonous  cup  of sin. Your hands  were  pure  and  clean;  your feet had  not  walked  in  the  way  of  transgressors; innocence  was  depicted  in  your  countenance.

3. Therefore  it  is  not  wonderful  that  you, endowed as  you  were  with  all  the  qualities  of a  good  child,  with  obedience,  innocence,  love of learning,  modesty,  and  with  harmless merriment, should  have  been  the  joy  and  delight  of  your  parents  and  teachers,  a  spectacle to  God,  to  angels,  and  to  men! Yes, fair and  golden  were  the  days  of  your  first youth, which  you  spent  under  the  parental roof, beneath  an  unclouded  sky.

And how  is  it  with  you  at  present? I do pot  know,  but  I  hope  for  the  best,  and  therefore I  entreat  you  to  continue  to  serve  God faithfully in  the  bright  days  of  youth  which yet remain  to  you!

4. You  will  understand  some  day,  what you perhaps  fail  to  perceive  now,  what  an unspeakable  advantage  it  is  to  consecrate the bright  days  of  youth  to  God;  strive  to preserve  your  innocence  unsullied  to  old  age - ave, to  the  grave. What a  happiness,  what a joy,  to  be  able  to  say  to  God,  when  this  mor-