A Sermon Delivered on Sabbath Morning, November 4, 1866,
In The First Presbyterian Church, Troy,
At The Request of The Young Men’s Christian Association.
2 Sam. xviii, 5. “_And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and
Ittai saying, deal gently for my sake with the young man, even
with Absalom._”
There are few passages of Holy writ more beautiful or suggestive than
this. Notwithstanding the astounding character of Absalom’s rebellion;
though the mind of the sovereign and father of his people is torn with
indignation at this outrage upon his throne and person, and is busy with
plans for the security of his kingdom and the repulse of the invader;
though David is stunned and bewildered at this high handed display of
ingratitude and rebellion on the part of his favorite child, the father
finds place to assert itself amid the cares of the sovereign, and to
breathe a word of caution to his generals respecting the person of his
dearly loved boy.
In accordance with the request of the Young Men’s National Christian
Convention to the churches, I propose to devote this service to a
discussion of their relations to the church. I take this text as setting
forth a similar charge given by our Lord and King Christ to his militant
church, to deal gently with the young man. I therefore invite your
attention to the following points respecting the relations of young men to
the church:
I. The church _must_ deal with them.
II. The church _ought_ to deal with them.
III. How the church should deal with them.