Ecclesiastes 12:1; Proverbs 3:5-7
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
JOHN ANGELL JAMES (1785-1869): Young women! Deeply ponder, that character for life is usually formed in youth. It is the golden season of life, and to none more truly and eminently so than to the young woman. Her leisure, her freedom from care, and her protected situation, give her the opportunity for this, which it is her wisdom and her duty to consider, embrace, and improve.
ADAM CLARKE (1760-1832): “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” What does the text say? It says in effect, you are not your own, you have no right to yourselves. God made you; He is your Creator: He made you that you might be happy; but you can be happy only in Him. And as He created you, so He preserves you; He feeds, clothes, upholds you. He has made you capable of knowing, loving, and serving Him in this world, and of enjoying Him in his own glory for ever. And when you had undone yourselves by sin, He sent His Son to redeem you by His blood; and He sends His Spirit to enlighten, convince, and draw you away from childishness, from vain and trifling, as well as from sinful pursuits.
THOMAS COKE (1747-1814): And remember what an obligation it lays upon us to depart from iniquity.
JOHN ANGELL JAMES: Set out in life with a deep conviction of the momentous consequence of self-discipline. Lay the basis of all your excellences in true religion—the religion of the heart, the religion of penitence, faith in Christ, love to God, a holy and heavenly mind. No character can be well-constructed, safe, complete, beautiful, or useful, without this.
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564): Diligently remember what Christ Himself teaches, that “he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,” John 8:12.
ADAM CLARKE: Remember what thou hast heard, and practice what thou dost remember; and let all obedience be from the heart: “Let thy heart keep my commandments,” Proverbs 3:1.
GEORGE WHITEFIELD (1714-1770): The first benefit resulting from this is, that it will bring most honour and glory to God. This ought to be the point in which our actions should center; for to this end were we born, and to this end were we redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, that we should promote God’s eternal glory. And as the glory of God is most advanced by paying obedience to His precepts, they that begin soonest to walk in His ways, act most to His glory. But, secondly, as an early piety redounds most to the honour to God, so it will bring most honour to ourselves: for those that honour God, God will honour, 1 Samuel 2:30.
JOHN ANGELL JAMES: The perfection of human character consists of piety, prudence, and knowledge. Make that noble trio your own—Cultivate a thoughtful, reflective turn of mind. Look beneath the surface of things; beyond their present aspect to their future consequences. Be somewhat meditative, and learn to restrain your words and feelings, by a rigid self-control. Pay most anxious attention to your temper, and acquire as much as possible its perfect command. More women are rendered miserable, and render others miserable, by neglect of this, than perhaps from any other cause. Let meekness of disposition and gentleness of manner be a constant study.
ALEXANDER MacLAREN (1826-1910): This advice is specially needed; for youth has so much that is delightful in its novelty to think about, and the world, on both its innocent and its sinful side, appeals to it so strongly, that the Creator is only too apt to be crowded out of view.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): How many young women exist only for amusement and vanity?
D. L. MOODY (1837-1899): Whatever you make most of is your god. Whatever you love more than God is your idol. Many make a god of pleasure; that’s what their hearts are set on.
JOHN ANGELL JAMES: Fashion is the goddess to whose shrine too many bow with ardent devotion—the mind is filled with pride and vanity, and a deteriorating influence is placed on upon what constitutes the true dignity of the soul. The love of ostentation infects the character…Modesty is the most attractive of all female graces. What is intelligence without it, but bolder impudence? Or beauty, but a more seductive snare? Modesty is a woman’s ornament, investing all her other excellences with additional charms—the blush of purity upon the cheek of beauty. It is her power, by which she subdues every heart that is worth the conquest. Chastity is the robe which every woman should wear, and modesty is the golden clasp that keeps it upon her, and the fringe that adorns it.
JOHN NEWTON (1725-1807): With many people of fashion, infidelity is fashionable.
C. H. SPURGEON: If sin be in fashion, let us be out of fashion.
GEORGE WHITEFIELD: Be not “ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation,” Romans 1:16. Fear not man; fear not the contempt and revilings which you must meet with in the way of duty.
JOHN ANGELL JAMES: Take heed against flexibility of principle, purpose, and character, in reference to what is right—and obstinate perseverance in what is wrong…Knowing what is right, do it, though you stand alone, and though the world laughs in chorus at you. Possess that due degree of moral courage which, while it leaves you in possession of true shame when doing what is wrong, shall extinguish all false shame in doing what is right…On the other hand, it is no less great, good, and glorious, to say, “I am wrong,” when charged with an error, and convinced that you have committed it. An obstinate perseverance in a bad course, to avoid the shame and humiliation of confessing that you are wrong, is neither dignity nor greatness of mind, but stubborn imbecility.
RICHARD STEELE (1629-1692): Of all the temptations to which the young are exposed, none is more fatal and pernicious than evil company.
JOHN ANGELL JAMES: There are evil companions to be avoided. The Scripture says that “the companion of fools shall be destroyed,” Proverbs 13:20…Beware, then, I implore you, to whom you give your company and friendship—and whose company you accept in return.
HENRY VENN (1724-1797): Be therefore deliberate, and discreet in your choice of company. Always say to yourself: “Do I find either reproof, or exhortation, or comfort, or instruction in the great things of God, from their company?”
JOHN ANGELL JAMES: With much the same emphasis do I warn you against bad books…In some respects bad books are more mischievous than bad companions, since they can be more secretly consulted, and lodge their poison more abidingly in the imagination, the intellect, and the heart. A bad book is a bad companion of the worst kind, and prepares for bad companions of all other kinds! There are bad places also, places which endanger you, as well as bad companions and bad books; places where, if you have not already formed bad companionships, you are sure to find them!
MARY WINSLOW (1774-1854): Go nowhere where you cannot take Christ with you.
DUTCH PSALTER 322 (Psalm 119:9): How shall the young direct their way?
What light shall be their perfect guide?
Thy Word, O Lord, will safely lead,
If in its wisdom they confide.
