Lastly the reason given for this dealing is, “Son, thou art always with Me, and all that I have is thine.”  By which Christ seems to tell us that the disproportion between man and man is much less than we suppose.  The profligate had had one hour of ecstasy—­the other had had a whole life of peace.  A consistent Christian may not have rapture; but he has that which is much better than rapture:  calmness—­God’s serene and perpetual presence.  And after all brethren, that is the best.  One to whom much is forgiven, has much joy.  He must have it, if it were only to support him through those fearful trials which are to come—­those haunting reminiscences of a polluted heart—­those frailties—­those inconsistencies to which the habit of past indulgence have made him liable.  A terrible struggle is in store for him yet.  Grudge him not one hour of unclouded exultation.  But religion’s best gift—­rest, serenity—­the quiet daily love of one who lives perpetually with his Father’s family—­uninterrupted usefulness—­that belongs to him who has lived steadily, and walked with duty, neither grieving nor insulting the Holy Spirit of his God.  The man who serves God early has the best of it; joy is well in its way, but a few flashes of joy are trifles in comparison with a life of peace.  Which is best:  the flash of joy lighting up the whole heart, and then darkness till the next flash comes—­or the steady calm sunlight of day in which men work?

And now, one word to those who are living this young man’s life—­thinking to become religious as he did, when they have got tired of the world.  I speak to those who are leading what, in the world’s softened language of concealment, is called a gay life.  Young brethren, let two motives be urged earnestly upon your attention.  The first is the motive of mere honourable feeling.  We will say nothing about the uncertainty of life.  We will not dwell upon this fact, that impressions resisted now, may never come back again.  We will not appeal to terror.  That is not the weapon which a Christian minister loves to use.  If our lips were clothed with thunder, it is not denunciation which makes men Christians; let the appeal be made to every high and generous feeling in a young man’s bosom.

Deliberately and calmly you are going to do this:  to spend the best and most vigorous portion of your days in idleness—­in uselessness—­in the gratification of self—­in the contamination of others.  And then weakness, the relics, and the miserable dregs of life;—­you are going to give that sorry offering to God, because His mercy endureth for ever!  Shame—­shame upon the heart which can let such a plan rest in it one moment.  If it be there, crush it like a man.  It is a degrading thing to enjoy husks till there is no man to give them.  It is a base thing to resolve to give to God as little as possible, and not to serve Him till you must.

Young brethren, I speak principally to