Thoughts for Young Men, by J C Ryle, published by the Banner of Truth Trust, paperback, 87 pages, £3.50, obtainable from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom. This is an excellent book. Ryle speaks directly, relevantly and clearly to young men. And most of what he says is appropriate for young women, and people from other age groups also. The book is reprinted, without significant change, from The Upper Room, a collection of Ryle’s addresses and tracts; it was also printed separately in the nineteenth century. The new edition has some helpful extra footnotes.
Ryle begins with “five reasons for exhorting young men”; including: “Death and judgement are before young men, even as others, and they nearly all seem to forget it”. He follows this with “five special dangers young men need to be warned against”; among them are “the love of pleasure” and “the fear of man’s opinion”. Then Ryle gives “six general counsels to young men”; he begins with, “Try to get a clear view of the evil of sin”, and ends with, “Never make an intimate friend of anyone who is not a friend of God”. He finishes with “five special rules for young men”, among which he includes: “Resolve never to forget the eye of God is upon you”.
Ryle warns, instructs and encourages simply and there is little indication that he wrote these thoughts well over a century ago. He warns, “Repentance and faith are the gifts of God, and gifts that He often withholds when they have been long offered in vain. I grant you true repentance is never too late. But I warn you, at the same time, late repentance is seldom true. I grant you, one penitent thief was converted in his last hours, that no man might despair; but I warn you, only one was converted, that no man might presume.” In encouraging his readers, he states, “Remember it is possible to be a young man and yet to serve God”, and, “If men believed the promises more, they would never be afraid of duties”.
Resolve, by God’s help, to shun everything which may prove an occasion for sin
Finally, two quotations under the heading: “Resolve, by God’s help, to shun everything which may prove an occasion for sin”. First, on worldly amusements: “It may be difficult, in some instances, to show that they are, in themselves, positively unscriptural and wrong. But there is little difficulty in showing that the tendency of almost all of them is most injurious to the soul. They sow the seeds of an earthly and sensual frame of mind. They war against the life of faith. They promote an unhealthy and unnatural craving after excitement.” Second, “Do not be always trying how near you can allow the enemy of souls to come, and yet escape him. Hold him at arm’s length. Try to keep clear of temptation as far as possible, and this will be one great help to keep clear of sin.”
In his Introduction, Ryle stated, “I pray God that what I say may do good to some soul”. No doubt many souls did find profit, and one can only repeat Ryle’s prayer – for the young people of an even more ungodly generation.