Talks to Young Men

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 15, 1866

Talks to Young Men.

A MESS OF POTTAGE.

It was a small price that Esau took for his title to the inheritance, and his right as Isaac's first-born son. One savory meal, one hour's gratification of appetite, a piece of bread, and a few beans or lentiles, a brief refreshment, longed for, enjoyed, and gone,—and for this he sold his birthright, and lost his heritage.

But foolish as men may count this ancient sensualist, who gave his inheritance for a single meal, the pottage business is by no means obsolete,—nay, it seems to flourish greatly in modern days. And the trade in birthrights is also extensive and active.

Manhood, honesty, nobility, purity of soul, fellowship with God and with his kings and priests whom he has already anointed, and whom he soon will crown; the heavenly hope, the eternal inheritance, the joys unspeakable, and the bliss immeasurable,—all these things are the birthrights which men barter away, the treasures which they squander, the priceless gifts wasted by foolish hands.

And what messes of pottage Satan furnishes, savory and smoking hot, to tempt the appetites of gluttonous fools. To one he gives wealth, gilt playthings, toys, and trinkets. To another he flings the sop of luxury, and bids him eat and drink and riot on. Here for a moment's sensual pleasure, a man perils his all; there for an hour of wild exhilaration, another drains the cup that biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder. Here for the kiss of a painted prostitute, or the harlot's vile embrace, the fool sells his birthright, and takes disease into his body, rottenness into his bones, remorse into his heart, death for his doom, and perdition for his portion.

In an hour the pleasure is past. In a day all has faded away, and loathing comes to take the place of lust. But in that short hour, innocence, purity, peace and honor, all are gone. Tears cannot efface the stain; regrets cannot obliterate the dark memories that haunt the soul; years cannot unburden the conscience of its load. The pottage was savory, but the birthright is gone!

Ah, how many to-day curse the pottage, and wish their birthright back once more! How many others go to sell their birthrights, and taste the hellish compound that Satan brews. To-day warnings are useless; to-morrow regrets will be vain. Now Satan says "no danger;" to-morrow the sneering fiend hisses in our ears, "too late."

Bitterly did Esau rue his brief indulgence. Earnestly did he seek to undo the fatal act; but he found no way to change the settled purpose, though he sought it day and night with tears. Bitterly have others lamented the same fatal error. Peace gone, innocence gone, purity gone, honor gone, the birthright gone, and nothing to show for it but loathsome memories, broken health, and a conscious meanness and self-abhorrence, which makes life a burden and death a leap in the dark.

And for all this misery there is but one possible remedy, but one relief. The good God pities even such lost men as these, and offers to purge and cleanse and pardon even them. Will you come to Him? "Whoso covereth his sins shall not prosper, but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy."

Pour out the sins that burn within your tortured breast, and give yourself forever to the Lord. This is your only hope. You have sold yourself for naught, you shall be redeemed without money. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth you from all sin. By that alone can you regain lost innocence and peace and rest.

But beware of sensual delights. Flee youthful lusts. Hate even the garment spotted by the flesh. Solemn is the apostolic charge, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know now that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." Heb. xii, 14–17.

Never did sensual pleasure hold supreme sway than amid the proud and idle gluttons of the cities of the plain. Their filthy conduct daily vexed the righteous soul of Lot, and their unlawful deeds made sad the hearts that yet remembered God. But when the sulphurous cloud of smoke, and the lurid storm of fire came down, what availed it all? Where were the rioters, the adulterers, the gluttons, the harlots, then? What availed the memory of guilty pleasures, amid the tormenting vengeance of eternal fire?

And what shall guilty pleasures avail you, when all the world shall be overwhelmed as was Sodom, and destroyed like Gomorrah? Those cities are set forth as an example to other sinners, that they may know their swift approaching doom. For, "As it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded, but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed." Luke xvii, 28–30.

"Thus shall it be" when in the midst of the world's high carnival of pleasure, shall burst the awful terrors of the day of doom. Too late will men curse the fatal pottage, and seek with tears the birthright of the sons of God. But all in vain. The decision made in an hour of sensual passion, is bound as with the chains of destiny. The inheritance is lost. The birthright is gone. The crown shines upon another's brow, and for the poor degraded sensualist, there only remains abiding shame, everlasting contempt, and the dread perdition of ungodly men. Oh man! Young man, take heed to your ways, while you make earth's perilous paths. One fatal step, and you are gone! Beware how you dally with sin. Beware how you trifle with temptation. Beware how you boast of your strength. Beware how you confide in your safety. "Blessed is the man that feareth always." Flee from every taint and stain of sin. Hide yourself in the everlasting Rock. Trust in the Saviour and in his cleansing blood and all-sufficient grace, and you shall be a conqueror in the fight of faith, and wear the crown of victory at last.—The Christian.