SUNDAY BEADING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 13948, 2 January 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

SUNDAY BEADING.

. —» ■ ' — ■ A NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE TO YOUNG MEN. BT THE BKV. DINSDALK T. YOWNG. Run, speak to this young man!-Zech. ii. 4. It is an angel who speaks, and he addresses the charge to another angel. The angels are eagerly interested in young men. In whom are not the angels interested? In this, as in all things, the angels are onsamples to the Churches. They must mariife?* towards the young men of to-day the sympathetic interest which the angels show. Let all young men realise the gracious fact that heaven cares for them. We. read of a young man in olden times that " the angels of God met him," and every young man's path is full often brightened by angel presences. Oh, that our young men might have eyes to see them! , An angel speaks to every young man. A heavenly messenger (wo will not quibble about the nomenclature) bear 3 ever and anon to the young life a word of God. Wo have of ton striven to still the' Voice Divine. We havo spurned the unwelcome message. We have listened to any "prating fool" in preference to the angel, yet still the patient, loving angel speaks. One angel calls unto another, saying, "Run, speak to this young man!" ,•■'■-- ; Who was "this young man"? Some have suggested that it was an angel. But the context—and all Scripture—draws a marked distinction between angels and men. It has been surmised that Zechariah the prophet is the young man referred to, and there is something beautiful in the idea of a man being a prophet in. his youth. Would that all young men were prophets! It seems to me, however, that the young man thus alluded to is the young man whom Zechariah saw in the first verse of this chapter, " a man with a measuring line in his hand." He had set out to measure Jerusalem, the holy city, when God sends an angel to him to prophesy glorious things concerning that beloved dwelling-place of the saints. • One distinguished commentator has supposed that the young man was Nehemiah, who, commissioned of Artaxerxes to restore Jerusalem's walls, was now measuring those walls. I use this text not with reference to the young man originally named, but with reference to the young men around me now. To every Gospel messenger does the Voice Divine continually come, saying, "Run, speak to this young man * THERE 18 A DIVINE MESSAGE TO YOUNG MEN. There over has been, there - happily is today. It is gladdening to note the increased attention paid of late by the Churches to flio young people, more especially to young men. Many of our pulpits now ring regularly with brotherly appeals to young men. Surely this is as it should be, for, of all classes of the community, what class is more important in its future than our young men? Is it a light thing to influence for Christ, and therefore for every kind of good, the professional men, the' tradesmen, the . working men, the heads of houses, of coming days? The Church which neglects its young will be in a sorry plight in days to come. Young men, God bids His angels stir up His servants, saying. Run, speak to this young man!" I would humbly follow in the angel's wake. I would emulate John the divine, who wroto to the young men. I would say. with affectionate directness, "I have a message from God unto thee." Nay, more, God Himself stoops from His throne of light, rnd, with all a father's tenderness and more, He cries, " My son, give Me thine heart." -

AN INDIVIDUAL MESSAGE. The angel is bidden speak "to this young man." There was no mistake about the identity of the youth' addressed. It is the young man he had already observed. The young man is actually before him. How God individualises men! "Run, speak to this young man!" God's heart has always gone out towards the individual. Ever since Ho , challenged, the first man as he lurked amid the foliage of Eden, saying, "Whore ait thou?" God has sought to lay hold upon the individual soui. so I hat in sending His angel to speak to, the inuividual young man God but illustrates. His eternal method. ~ ..- I cannot but think that the young man to whom these words were addressed represents a largo class of the young men of to-day. Perhaps ho is a portraiture of some who now listen to my words. • ' This young man was interested, in the Church. He had "a measuring lino in his hand," and his avowed purpose was "to measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thoreof,' and what is the length thereof." Is not that the attitude of thousands of intelligent young men in this country to-day? Young men are - more interested in religion and in the Churches than they are often supposed to be. It is not often you meet a reflective young man who has not a "measuring line in his hand." Young men will take the measure of everything, and os of everything so of the Church of trod Tha danger is lest a young man .forget to measure himself. I would encourage every young man who is using his measure line. God bids me '" Run, speak to this young man." Do not neglect to use your " measuring line," your reason, your judgment, your conscience. Apply it reverently yet fearlessly,, even to sacred things. ♦ -. , ■ MEASURE HONESTLT. I am not afraid of any really vital thing in the Church 1 if you ' measure it honestly. The more you apply your measuring line to the Bible, the more you will be' satisfied of its intrinsic divinity. All tests will issue in the triumph of the Word of God. It shrinks from no sincere and devout criticism. The Church can sustain-all. scrutiny. With : all its imperfections, it is the purest and most beneficial commonwealth under, the sun. Tho Christian religion is not in fear of your measuring line. ' It will sustain itself nobly under all investigations. * There are some who use the " measuring lino" in a wrong spirit. Your measurement will , be .wrong if your motive be wrong. There is much contemptible < measuring of the holy city. There is no reliance to be placed upon the measurements of an intellectual fop. If you examine the Bible to find mistakes in Moses, errata in, the prophets, chronological inaccuracies in tho Gospels, you will get no accurate realisation of the Holy Book. It is dumb in presence of a hectoring Pilate, but it is sweetly communicative to a contrite heart. This young man wis religiously candid. When the prophet interrogated him he avowed his deliberate intention "to measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof." He had not already made up his mind as to its dimensions. Ho was about to apply a test, and by the issue of the test ho was ready to abide. Such a young man will always have an angel charged of God to run and speak to him. ' BE CANDID. The difficulty often is to secure candour in young men. There is much prejudice against Bible religion. Many have decided as to Jerusalem's dimensions without having themselves ascertained them. Some are infidels on trust. ._ They are sceptics by hearsay. Do not be ashamed to avow that you aro giving religion an honest trial. He measures Christianity best who endeavours to live it. Let no sneer make you discard a faithful examination of Jerusalem. Be true to it, and it will bo true to you. This young man was taught of God. The angel declared to him the future which awaited Jerusalem. How increasingly numerous its population should be. Bow entirely and gloriously safe. How well defended from their enemies. How spiritually splendid its destiny. And God will teach every young man who sincerely desires to be taught of Him. Every youth should know of the doctrine who candidly seeks to know it. Oh, young man, I would > speak to you, and urge upon you in God's name the joyful duty of uniting yourself with the Church of tho Living God. It« future is assured and glorious. To it all men shall yet gather. It shall crewhile include " a great multitude which no man can number." When God new says to His servant, "Run, speak to this young man!" it may be to one who is widely different from the young man of whom I have spoken. Ho may be such a one as has surrendered his faith. Once you know its purity, its peace, its joy; now you are' a stranger to theso precious things. God bids me beg of you to return to your lost blessedness. The home door has never been shut since you left it. . The loving Father waits to welcome his returning child. Why not come back this gracious hour? 5 Let not your pitiful backsliding fill you with despair. It is a crowning act of sin to despair of God's redeeming love. The great Atonement still avails for you. Do not despair. Ropent! Despair is eternal midnight. Repentance is a dawn. .. ,1 ..■■-. - - -• •" .

Perchance "I'am to speak to a young njaa who has been a prey to impurity. You hay« ; strayed to i" the * house which is the way to hell." Beware!'. A dart will strike through your liver if you enter therein. .And be warned of what leads to uncleannijss, ihe j'oul jest, impious story, the " realistic" novel, the corrupt thought. "Keep thyself pure." . ' • YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION. " Speak to this young —yielding to a love of strong drink. How subtly the destructive liking grows! The tide of temptation creeps up so noiselessly that you are surrounded ere you realise it. Do not presumptuously deem yourself strong. Cry to the Saviour for help, lest even in early life you become a moral wreck. "Speak to this young man"—becoming avaricious of money. Beware of the insensate passion to be rich. They who give way to it drown their souls in destruction. " Speak to ; this young religiously wavering. . You are the subject of countless good impressions. But you are halting, undecided. Oh, surrender yourself immediately to the Christ who has redeemed you! I god's message. Young man, I may not have sketched your circumstances, nor your character; but, whoever you be, God enjoins me to spoak to you and declare His glad tidings to you. Christ the Incarnate God died and rose again to be your Saviour. Believe on Him even this moment and Ho will deliver you from sin and from guilt. Commit yourself to Him in life's bright morning, and His grace will irradiate every hour of your lifeday, i The angel is bidden, "Run, speak to this young man!" No time is to bo lost. Utmost alacrity is demanded. He who would evangelise must be alert. Youth has no time to trifle with. Temptations multiply around the yoting man. Life may be brief, even for him. But God is urgent in His appeal mainly because He desires the young man to have ample experience of the blessings of Christ. * . x "■ . ■ MAN'S noblest friend. " v 3 j Young man, He would fain crowd years with grace. So I, in spirit, run to speak to you now. The Church of God runs to your relief. It would be woo to us did we not speak to you with least possible loss of time. The powers of sin are on the alert. Satan lurks by -the pathway of your life. What with the allurements of evil and the native tendency of the human heart, there is all need for us to be expeditious. Therefore wc run and speak to you, calling you to the Divine Saviour, the best and noblest friend a young man can ever possess. Young men, be enamoured of the old yet perennially new Gospel. Give yourselves to Christ. Christianity is the crown of manhood. "The Christian is the highest style of man." He only is a man who is a man in Christ. -"- ". Keep not the glad tidings of the Redeemer to yourself. Do not lock un the Gosnel within your own heart. Young Christian! Proclaim to this young man who has not had your privileges the good word of Christ- i Perchance he, is. sighing for peace and mirity. "Run. 'speak to this young man," and God will bless the word.