Rev. Thomas Scott
The Vanity of Youth: A Sermon
「1818」Rev. Thomas Scott, “The Vanity of Youth: A Sermon on the Death of Elizabeth Shepherd (1818),” in “Prayers for Families, Detached Papers and Posthumous Sermons, ” vol. 5 of The Works of the Late Rev. Thomas Scott [Google Books], John Scott, ed. (London, 1825) 531-551. 「The substance of the sermon was taken in short hand at the time it was delivered; and Mr. Scott had thoughts of preparing it for the press. This, however, he never accomplished: but it was published after his death in the present form.—J.S.」 .
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 knowswhat is right, and will not do it, and commits what he knows to be evil, he is a sinner, and, as such, need 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 wretches to all eternity. Many things, as has already been observed, may now be though only harmless frolics and innocent amusement, 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; an that in acting thus, thou art lending thine aid in bringing it down upon the head of thine own offspring. (537-538)
